"Dimber is in it. He claims to have seen Long with his gun near Bethel's house last night. The gun has been found."
"Of course," I returned. "We will put a muzzle on friend Dimber very shortly."
I refolded the message and returned it to Gerry, who touched his hat and turned back toward the village.
Going to the door of the cottage, I informed Mr. Harris and the ladies that the new operator had just brought the news we so much wished for, viz.: the coming of Bethel's uncle from New York by that night's express. Then, sauntering back to my old place under the trees, I communicated to Jim the purport of the postscript written by Gerry.
He listened attentively, but with no sign of discomposure visible upon his countenance.
"I've had time to think the matter over," he said, after a moment's silence, "and I think I shall pull through, but," with a waggish twinkle in his eye, "I am puzzled to know why that young man going up the hill should take so much interest in me, or was it Harris?"
"It was not Harris," returning his look with interest. "That young man going up the hill is Gerald Brown, of New York. He's the new night operator, and he will not fail to do his duty, in the office and out of it."
"Ah!" ejaculated Jim, turning his eyes once more toward the receding form of Gerry.
I let my own gaze follow his and there, just coming into sight on the brow of the hill, was a party of men.