mother's neighbors might have called.

"I should rather have been alone, Ben. They brought bad news--that
is, one of them did."

"Who was it, mother? Who called on you?"

"The first one was the same man who took your money in the woods."

"What, the tramp!" exclaimed Ben hastily. "Did he frighten you?"

"A little, at first, but he did me no harm. He asked for some supper,
and I gave it to him."

"What bad news did he bring?"

"None. It was not he. On the other hand, what he hinted would be
good news if it were true. He said that your father left property,
and that he was the only man that possessed the secret."

"Do you think this can be so?" said Ben, looking at his mother in
surprise.

"I don't know what to think. He said he was a barkeeper in the hotel
where your poor father died, and was about to say more when a knock
was heard at the door, and he hurried away, as if in fear of
encountering somebody."

"And he did not come back?"