If such were Ralph’s plans, they were fated never to be carried out. Rob was swinging idly on the porch seat, all by himself, the other three being back in the milk room watching the process of cheese-making under the supervision of Mr. Jeffords, when he saw Ralph come hastily toward him. Rob had reason to believe that the other must have been in his den at the barn, since he came from that direction.
When he saw the strange look on the other’s face, Rob stopped swinging and awaited his arrival. No sooner had he come up than he tossed something in Rob’s lap.
“I want somebody to kick me,” said Ralph bitterly, “for I sure deserve it. Those packets are the missing stamps, and where do you think I found them but behind my trunk, where they must have been blown by a passing gust of wind!”
Chapter XXV
Lucky Peleg
Although thrilled by the announcement, the scout leader’s first sensation was rather one of great joy. He seemed to see the pale earnest face of poor Peleg Pinder rise up again before him; and how glad he felt that through it all, even when the clouds seemed darkest for Peleg, he had continued to firmly believe in the other’s innocence.
Ralph was showing signs of remorse. He realized now that what Rob had said to him about not depending on circumstantial evidence, when charging a companion with an evil deed, was true, since at best it must be an unreliable staff upon which to lean.
Still, there was one delightful thing about it, besides the discovery of Peleg’s innocence; and this was the frank way in which Ralph took himself to task. Such action spoke well for his bigness of heart. Rob felt sure that the young fur farmer would never again allow himself to believe wrong of a comrade without more tangible evidence than mere suspicion.
“So these are the stamps that kicked up such a tempest in a teapot, are they?” remarked Rob, shuffling the various packets between his hands. “The old curio dealer didn’t see them, after all. That’s going to save you a visit to town, I reckon, Ralph. The chances were you had figured on putting your threat into execution.”
“Yes,” replied the other, contritely, “I might as well own that I had made my mind up to run in this very day and learn the truth. I couldn’t stand it any longer, you see, thinking all those mean things about Peleg. Right now I’m wondering how I’ll ever look him straight in the eye again.”
“Oh! don’t let that worry you, Ralph. There’s no need of his ever knowing that he was under suspicion. Where ignorance is bliss, you know, they say it’s folly to be wise. Let things go as they were before.”