"Shafton, Laurence Shafton, son of the big Shafton, you know Shafton

and Gates."

A heavy whistle blended with the whispering pines.

"You don't say? How much family?"

"Mother living, got separate fortune in her own right. Father just

dotes on him. Uncle has a big estate on Long Island, plenty more

millions there. I think a million is real modest in us to ask, don't

you?"

"Where's he goin' to? What makes you think he'll come this way 'stead

of the valley road?"

"'Cause he's just started, got all the directions for the way, went

over it carefully with his valet. Valet gave me the tip you understand,

and has to be in on the rake-off. It's his part to keep close to the

family, see? Guy's goin' down to Beechwood to a house party, got a bet

on that he'll make it before daylight. He's bound to pass your mountain

soon after midnight, see? Are you goin' to do your part, or ain't you?

Or have I got to get a new agent down there? And say! I want a message

on this wire as soon as the job is completed. Now, you understand? Can

you pull it off?"

It was some time after the key clicked in the lock and the bulky form

of the freight agent lumbered up through the pines again before Billy

stirred. Then he wriggled around through the undergrowth until he found

himself in front of the innocent looking little box covered over with

dried grass and branches. He examined it all very carefully, pried

underneath with his jack knife, discovered the spot where the wire

connected, speculated as to where it tapped the main line, prospected a

bit about the place and then on hands and knees wormed himself through

the thick growth of the mountain till he came out to the huckleberry

clump, and recovering his bicycle walked innocently up to the station

as if it were the first time that day and enquired of the surly freight

man whether a box had come for his mother.

In the first place Billy hadn't any mother, only an aunt who went out

washing and had hard times to keep a decent place for Billy to sleep

and eat, and she never had a box come by freight in her life. But the

burly one did not know that. Just what Billy Gaston did it for, perhaps

he did not quite know himself, save that the lure of hanging round a

mystery was always great. Moreover it gave him deep joy to know that he

knew something about this man that the man did not know he knew. It was

always good to know things. It was always wise to keep your mouth shut

about them when you knew them. Those were the two most prominent planks

in Billy Gaston's present platform and he stood upon them firmly.




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