“Where have you been, Andy?”
“Oh, on a little trip, to the North Pole and elsewhere,” was the cool reply.
“You’re joking me! But have your fun,—it ain’t none o’ my affair. But I want to tell yer somethin’,” went on the old man, impressively. “I got them papers back.”
“So I heard. I hope you’ll not give them to that A. Q. Hopton.”
“Not much! Hopton is a swindler—I found thet out in Portland, when I was there.”
“What about Hopton?” demanded Mr. Greene, who had been in earnest conversation with Chet. “Do you mean the real estate dealer?”
“I do,” answered Josiah Graham.
“Where is he now? He is the man who caused me all my trouble. Just let me get at him! He covered up his tracks pretty well, but I’ve now got the evidence against him.”
“I don’t know where Hopton is now, but I guess I kin find out,” answered Josiah Graham.
All entered the cabin, and there each told his story in detail. The men listened to the boys in open-mouthed wonder.