"It must be the property down by the lake front!" cried Ralph.
"Had he the papers for that land?" asked Horace Kelsey.
"I never thought so," returned the boy, slowly. "But he might have. He used to transact most of father's business for him years ago."
"Then you can depend upon it that he has the papers."
"But the land belongs to my mother."
"He's going to force her into selling out to him," put in Martin Thomas. "With you out of the way he felt sure, I suppose, that he could do as he pleased with your mother."
"The scamp!" ejaculated Ralph, his honest eyes flashing fire. "If you have told the truth, he shall suffer for this, mark my words!"
"And, hoping you will drop this matter against me," went on the prisoner, "let me give you another pointer. You wrote to your mother the other day, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"Well, he got that letter. Your mother never saw it."