"That will be the time for Oscar to be dumb. I understand, Mr. Armitage."

Armitage smiled. The man presented so vigorous a picture of health, his
simple character was so transparently reflected in his eyes and face that
he did not in the least question him.

"You are an intelligent person, Sergeant. If you are equally
discreet--able to be deaf when troublesome questions are asked, then I
think we shall get on."

"You should remember--" began Oscar.

"I remember nothing," observed Armitage sharply; and Oscar was quite
humble again. Armitage opened a trunk and took out an envelope from which
he drew several papers and a small map, which he unfolded and spread on
the table. He marked a spot with his lead-pencil and passed the map to
Oscar.

"Do you think you could find that place?"

The man breathed hard over it for several minutes.

"Yes; it would be easy," and he nodded his head several times as he named
the railroad stations nearest the point indicated by Armitage. The place
was in one of the mountainous counties of Virginia, fifteen miles from an
east and west railway line. Armitage opened a duly recorded deed which
conveyed to himself the title to two thousand acres of land; also a
curiously complicated abstract of title showing the successive transfers
of ownership from colonial days down through the years of Virginia's