"Because——"
"It breaks off in the middle."
"Oh, Will, let him tell it; can't you?" demanded Grace, impatiently. "We don't know whom we're listening to."
"Well, to be brief," said Mr. Blackford, "the firm I have engaged, the other day, wrote me that they were on the track of my sister. They felt sure they were going to find her, and I was very hopeful.
"It seems that they had found some old documents in the attic of a house where some distant relatives live. They wrote me they were sending them on, and—here they are!"
He brought out a bundle of time-stained and yellow papers, and spread them on the table.
"Gracious!" cried Will. "Your sister must be quite elderly to have such ancient documents refer to her."
"No," said Mr. Blackford, "she is younger than I am, I believe. But I have no certain knowledge of that. Anyhow, this is part of a letter written about the girl whom I have every reason to believe is my sister. And the part that is most interesting——"
"Is where——" began Will.
"Can't you keep still?" begged his sister.