帕齐的父亲道尔少校来到了农场，孩子们将她们的猜测告诉了他，并成功地将他拉到了侦察组。道尔发现哈克斯在夜深人静的时候夹着包裹鬼鬼祟祟地溜了出去，他跟踪了一段路却跟丢了。第二天，在同样静谧的夜晚，道尔发现哈克斯又“出动”了……
Ethel came frequently to visit the girls at the Wegg farm，and at such times Uncle John treated her with the same affectionate consideration he bestoweda upon his nieces，and made her so cordially welcome that the little school teacher felt entirely at her ease.The girls did not con？de to Ethel their investigation of the Wegg mystery，but in all other matters gave her their full con？dence.Together they made excursions to the Falls，to the natural caves on the rocky hill called Mount Parnassus，or rowed on the lake，or walked or drove，as the mood seized them.But mostly they loved the shade of the pines and the broad green beside the quaint mansion Captain Wegg had built，and which now contained all the elements of a modern summer home.
Once Louise asked Ethel，casually，if she knew what"great trouble"had come to Hucks and his wife in their early life，but the girl frankly answered that the old people had never referred to anything of the kind in her presence.
Finally a telegram announced the arrival of Major Doyle to join the party at the farm.Patsy was in the seventh heaven of delight，and drove Joe over to the Junction to meet her father on the arrival of the morning train.
The Major was a prime favorite with all the party and his coming infused new life intob the household.He was the type of educated，polished，open—hearted Irish gentleman it isalways a delight to meet，and Uncle John beamed upon hisbrother—in—law in a way that betokeneda a hearty welcome.It was a source of much satisfaction to lug the Major over the farm and prove to him how wise Mr.Merrick had been in deciding to spend the summer on his own property；and the Major freely acknowledged that he had been in error and the place was as charming as anyone could wish.It was a great treat to the grizzled old warrior to ？nd himself in the country，away from every responsibility of work，and he promised himself a fortnight of absolute rest，with the recreation of beholding his beloved Patsy as often as he pleased.
Of course，the girl would tell her father about the Weggmystery，for Patsy had a habit of telling him everything；therefore the cousins decided to take the Major freely into their confidence，so as to obtain the benefit of his opinion.That could not be done the first day，of course，for on that day Uncle John insisted on displaying the farm and afterward carrying the Major a willing prisoner to watch him ？sh in the brook.But on the following morning the girls surrounded Patsy's father and with solemn faces recounted their suspicions，the important clues they had unearthed，and their earnest desire to right the great wrong that had been done by apprehending the criminal.
The Major smoked his after breakfast cigar and listened attentively.The story，told consecutivelyb，was quite impressive.In spite of his long experience in buffeting theworld，the old soldier's heart was still as simple as that of a child，and the recital awakened his sympathies at once.
"'Tis evident，me children，"said he，in his quaint way，"that you've stumbled ona the inside of a crime that doesn't show on the outside.Many of the things you mention are so plain that he who runs may read；but I've remarked that it's just the things ye don't suspect in real life that prove to be the most important.""That is true，Major，"commented Louise."At ？rst it wasjust to amuse ourselves that we became amateur detectives，but the developments are so startling and serious that we now consider it our duty to uncover the whole dreadful crime，in the interests of justice.""Just so，"he said，nodding.
"But I'm sure Old Hucks is innocent！"declared Patsy，emphatically.