约翰叔叔一行人将正在翻抽屉的韦斯特逮了个正着，不过事实上证明韦斯特没有非法占有维格和汤普森的股票。他们早已经将自己的那份转卖给了韦斯特。这样一来新的谜题又出现了，他们转让股票所得的钱为什么不翼而飞了呢？
A cry of amazed protest burst from the girls.The Major whistled softly and walked to the window.
"I find the stock properly transferred，"continued UncleJohn，grimly conscious that he was as thoroughly disappointed as the girls."It is signed by both Wegg and Thompson，and witnessed in the presence of a notarya.I congratulate you，Mr.West.You have acquired a fortune.""But not recently，"replied the hardware dealer，enjoying the confusion of his recent opponents."I have owned this stock for more than three years，and you will see by the amount endorsed upon it that I paid a liberal price for it，under the circumstances."Uncle John gave a start and a shrewd look."Of course you did，"said he."On paper.""I have records to prove that both Captain Wegg and Will Thompson received their money，"said West，quietly."I see it is hard for you to abandon the idea that I am a rogue."There could be no adequate reply to this，so for a time allsat in moody silence.But the thoughts of some were busy.
"I would like Mr.West to explain what became of the money he paid for this stock，"said Louise；adding："That is，if he will be so courteous."West did not answer for a moment.Then he said，with a gesture of indifference：
"I am willing to tell all I know.But you people mustadmit that the annoyances you have caused me during the past fortnight，to say nothing of the gratuitous insults heaped upon my head，render me little inclined to favor you.""You are quite justified in feeling as you do，"replied Uncle John，meekly."I have been an ass，West；but circumstances warranted me in suspecting you，and even Joseph Wegg did not know that the Almaquo stock had been transferred to you.He merely glanced at it at the time of hisfather's death，without noticing the endorsementa，andthought the fire had rendered it worthless.But if you then owned the stock，why was it not in your possession？""That was due to my carelessness，"was the reply."The only notary around here is at Hooker's Falls，and Mr.Thompson offered to have him come to Captain Wegg's residence and witness the transfer.As my presence was not necessary for this，and I had full confidence in my friends'
integrity，I paid them their money，which they were eagerto secure at once，and said I would call in a few days for the stock.I did call，and was told the notary had been here and the transfer had been legally made.Wegg said he would get the stock from the cupboard and hand it to me；but we both forgot it at that time.After his death I could not ？nd it，for it was in the secret drawer.""Another thing，sir，"said Uncle John."If neither Weggnor Thompson was then interested in the Almaquo property，why did the news of its destruction by fire shock them so greatly that the result was Captain Wegg's death？""I see it will be necessary for me to explain to you more fully，"returned West，with a thoughtful look."It is evident，Mr.Merrick，from your questions，that some of these occurrences seem suspicious to a stranger，and perhaps you are not so much to be blamed as，in my annoyance and indignation，I have imagined.""I would like the matter cleared up for the sake of Ethel and Joe，"said Mr.Merrick，simply.
"And so would I，"declared the hardware dealer."You must know，sir，that Will Thompson was the one who first led Captain Wegg into investing his money.I think the Captain did it merely to please Will，for at that time he had become so indifferent to worldly affairs that he took no interest in anything beyond a mild wish to provide for his son's future.But Thompson was erratic in judgment，so Wegg used to bring their matters to me to decide upon.I always advised them as honestly as I was able.At the time I secured an option on the Almaquo tract，and wanted them to join me，Will Thompson had found another lot of timber，but located in an out—of—the—way corner，which he urged the Captain to join him in buying.
