hand of Pete went in and out of that side pocket like a flash of
lightning, and it held the letter when it came out.

What would Andy say to that way of obtaining the letter? That was the
very question Pete put to himself after the missive was safe in his
pocket.

He had had an example of Andy's notions of honesty, and it spoke volumes
for Andy's influence on him that he did not propose to let his "pardner"
know how he had obtained the letter.

"I'll bet a quarter," said Pete to himself, as he fell back to where he
knew Andy would be, "that he'd be jest fool ernough ter give the chump
the letter back ag'in."

When he was where he could beckon Andy he did so, and the latter
hastened up to him.

"Here's a letter," explained Pete. "He dropped it. Mebbe it has
somethin' in ter tell yer what yer want ter know."

"Dropped it?" said Andy, taking the letter doubtfully, but not
suspecting the way in which it had been obtained.

"Ya-as, an' I picked it up," replied Pete, unblushingly. "Go on an' read
it, why don't yer?"

It seemed to Andy that it would be no more than fair to read it under
the circumstances, and he opened it and did so. It was without
signature, and read as follows: