Wegg brought the matter to me，as usual，and I pointedout that my proposed contract with the Pierce—Lane Lumber Company would assure our making a handsome profit at Almaquo，while Thompson had no one in view to cut the othertract.Indeed，it was far away from any railroad.Wegg saw the force of my argument，and insisted that Thompson abandon his idea and accept my proposition.Together we bought the property，having formed a stock company，and the contract for cutting the timber was also secured.Things were looking bright for us and royalty payments would soon be coming in.
"Then，to my amazement，Wegg came to me and
wanted to sell out their interests.He said Thompson had always been dissatis？ed because they had not bought the other tract of timber，and that the worry and disappointment was affecting his friend's mind.He was personally satis？ed that my investment was the best，but，in order to sooth old Will and prevent his mind from giving way，Wegg wanted to withdraw and purchase the other tract.
"I knew there was a fortune in Almaquo，so I went toNew York and mortgaged all I possessed，discounting a lot of notes given me by farmers in payment for machinery，and ？nally borrowing at a high rate of interest the rest of the money I needed.In other words I risked all my fortune on Almaquo，and brought the money home to pay Wegg and Thompson for their interest.The moment they received the payment they invested it in the Bogue tract—""Hold on！"cried Uncle John."What tract did you say？""The Bogue timber tract，sir.It lies—""I know where it lies.Our company has been a whole year trying to ？nd out who owned it.""Wegg and Thompson bought it.I was angry at the time，because their withdrawal had driven me into a tight cornera to protect my investment，and I told them they would bitterly regret their action.I think Wegg agreed with me，but Will Thompson was still stubborn.
"Then came the news of the ？re at Almaquo.It was a false report，I afterward learned，but at that time I believed the newspapers，and the blow almost deprived me of reason.In my excitement I rushed over to Wegg's farm and found the two men together，whereupon I told them I was ruined.
"The news affected them powerfully because they had just saved themselves from a like ruin，they thought.Wegg was also a sympathetic man，in spite of his reserve.His old heart trouble suddenly came upon him，aggravated by the excitement of the hour，and he died with scarcely a moan.Thompson，whose reason was tottering long before this，became violently insane at witnessing his friend's death，and has never since recovered.That is all I am able to tell you，sir.""The Bogue tract，"said Uncle John，slowly，"is worth far more than the Almaquo.Old Will Thompson was saneb enough when insisting on that investment.But where is the stock，or deed，to show they bought that property？""I do not know，sir.I only know they told me they hadeffected the purchase.""Pardon me，"said the Major."Have you not been through this cupboard before？"West looked at him with a frown.
"Yes；in a search for my own stock，"he said."But I found neither that nor any deed to the Bogue property.I am not a thief，Major Doyle.""You stole the keys，though，"said Louise，pointedly.
"I did not even do that，"said West."On the day of the funeral Joe carelessly left them lying upon a table，so I slipped them into my pocket.When I thought of them again Joe had gone away and I did not know his address.I came over and searched the cupboard unsuccessfully.But it was not a matter of great importance at that time if the stock was mislaid，since there was no one to contest my ownership of it.It was only after Mr.Merrick accused me of robbing my old friends and ordered my payments stopped that I realized it was important to me to prove my ownership.That is why I came here today."Again a silence fell upon the group.Said Uncle John，nally：
"If the deed to the Bogue tract can be found，Joe and Ethel will be rich.I wonder what became of the paper."No one answered，for here was another mystery.