“What's up? Lost something?”

“None of your business!” McGlory was searching the ground feverishly.

“If you told me what it was, maybe I could help you.”

No answer. McGlory's temper was rising again. Finding nothing where he had lain, he began thrashing about the bushes.

“Unless it's something important, Joe, you're wasting a lot of time.”

“Well, say—you—you ain't seen a paper—or anything, have you?”

“A letter?”

“Not exactly. It wasn't in an envelope.”

“Oh, you mean this, maybe.” With a lighted match in one hand, he drew a folded paper from his pocket and started to open it. McGlory sprang forward, recognized it, and tried to snatch it away.

“It ain't necessary to read that. It's private business.”