“No one ever did or ever could doubt that fact, my good lady,” said Mr. Force, soothingly; “but there are captious people who will contest things that they cannot doubt. And it is to meet such as these that we must be armed with overwhelming evidence.”
Mrs. Anglesea was mollified, and presently inquired if Le had seen her boys.
“I did not go to Wild Cats’ Gulch, dear Mrs. Anglesea,” replied Le.
“‘Didn’t go!’ But you wrote as you was a-going!” exclaimed the lady from that section.
“Yes, and so I was. But on the very day when I proposed to start thither, on inquiring the best way to get there, I was referred to a man who was said to have once lived at the place. So I went, and found the referee to be a Mr. Joe Mullins, in the jewelry line of business.”
“Joe Mullins! My Joe! He in St. Sebastian! Do tell me now!” exclaimed Mrs. Anglesea.
“Yes, there he was, healthy, happy and prosperous, keeping a jeweler’s store, and living over it with his wife and two children!”
“Lord a mercy! Married, too!”
“Yes, and prosperous.”
“Well, well! And the other boys?”