"No," returned her husband, "but, all the same, I didn't like his actions. He might have done some serious damage with the stick he carried."
"That man, whoever he is, ought to be put under guard," declared Phil, and then he added quickly: "Did you get any letters, Ben?"
"Oh, yes, several of them. Here they are," and placing his hand in the pocket of his jacket, the youth brought forth over a dozen epistles.
There was a wild scramble, and the letters were quickly distributed.
"Oh, good! Here's a letter from dear dad!" exclaimed Belle. "Excuse me while I read it," and she quickly tore open the communication.
All of the girls had letters, and there was also one for Dave and another for Phil. As our hero looked at the communication addressed to him, he could not help but start. He thought he recognized the handwriting as that of Link Merwell.
"I wonder what he has got to say now," he mused, and then as the others began reading their letters, he opened the envelope and took out the single sheet it contained.
In a large, heavy hand were scrawled these words:
"I think before long you will be getting what is coming to you, you poorhouse nobody."
There was no signature.