"Who was it, Ralph?" inquired Mrs. Fairbanks.
"That I can not tell."
"Was it not signed?"
"It was once, but the upper fold and the lower fold of the sheet are a perfect blur. I have been able to make out a few words here and there in the center portion, but they tell nothing coherently."
Mrs. Fairbanks looked disappointed.
"That is unfortunate, Ralph," she said. "I hoped it would give some token of this boy's home or friends. But probably, when he does not return, and no answer comes to that letter, the writer will send another letter by mail."
"The boy may have been only incidentally employed to deliver it," suggested Ralph, "and not particularly known to the sender at all."
"I can not imagine who would be writing to your dead father," said Mrs. Fairbanks thoughtfully. "It can scarcely be of much importance."
"Mother," said Ralph, with an emphasis that impressed the widow, "I am satisfied this letter was of unusual importance—so much so that a special messenger was employed, and that is what puzzles me. A line in it was plainly 'your railroad bonds,' another as plainly refers to 'the mortgage,' the last word heads like 'Farewell,'
