"Why," he gasped uncertainly, "this must be from my father!"
Jane leaned closer as he excitedly tore open the envelope and unfolded its contents.
"Dear Son:" wrote the elder Swift, "I haven't time now to explain why you haven't heard from me in all these years. I'll be with you soon so that I can tell it to you from my own lips. It's enough to say now that I joined a scientific expedition into the interior of South America a month or so after I wrote my last letter, we ran into more adventures than I could cram into ten novels, and the remnant of our party that is left has just returned to civilization. The only redeeming feature is that we discovered a rich deposit of rare metal that has made all three of us very wealthy. We set up claims and have just equipped an expedition to go back there and work the deposits.
"I am well, as I pray that you are also. I have had more than enough of South America. I am returning to the States, leaving here next week. I am terribly anxious to see you. You must be a grown man now. I can hardly believe it. I am not allowing myself even to consider the possibility that anything amiss has happened to you or to my dear old friend Jerry Dillon and that this letter may never reach you. Give Pop my love. I will see you both soon."
Speedy's eyes were glistening as he looked from the letter to Jane.
