"Yes, I guess he's got a lot of business to attend to on account of the new move those fellows made," ventured Billy.
The next moment his uncle called to him:
"Billy, I say Billy! Did you take back that paper you brought from the Eastern lawyer—the title deed to the land in dispute?"
"No, Uncle Richfield. I haven't seen it since I gave it to you. Why?"
"Because it's gone!"
"Gone?"
"Yes. I had it last night, looking it over together with some other documents, and I put them all in my desk, intending to take them into town this morning. Now the most valuable document of the lot is missing!"
"Missing!" cried Billy. "How can that be? Has anyone——"
At that moment the Chinese cook appeared in the yard with a bowl of steaming coffee. Addressing Mr. Thornton he said:
"Him no can do."