Here Adin Dunham entered the house. He looked ten years older than when he left it in the morning, and there was a vacant look in the eyes. "Wife!" he said feebly, "it's all gone! Some villain has robbed me of the thousand dollars." "But you, Adin, were you hurt? You look sick." "My head doesn't feel right. I think it's the shock." "I'll get you some hot tea directly. You'll feel better after taking it." "I hope so. Oh, Sarah, I didn't expect such a blow as this." "Try not to think of it now. Get well first, and then we'll see what we can do to find the robber." "I know him now!" "You know who robbed you!" said his wife, stopping short in her surprise. "Yes." "Who was it? Any one livin' round here?" "It was Squire Bates." A terrible suspicion entered the mind of the poor wife. It was clear to her that her husband's mind was unhinged. As soon as she had a chance she went out to where Dean and Mr. Gould were standing in the yard. "Did Mr. Dunham tell you who robbed him?" she asked. "Yes, aunt," answered Dean. "He said it was Squire Bates." "He just told me so. What do you think of it, neighbor Gould?" "I think your husband is upset by his accident," answered Gould, cautiously. "We'll wait and see what he says to-morrow." "I guess you're right." "You see he fainted away, and it's likely he hasn't fairly come to. At first I thought it wasn't true about the thousand dollars." "That is true. He received it to-day from the new hotel company for some land he sold them." "It's too bad, Mrs. Dunham. I'll do my part towards finding out the villain that robbed your poor husband." "Uncle says he knew the squire by his teeth," said Dean, thoughtfully. "They certainly are very peculiar teeth." "Did you ever know anyone else having such teeth?" asked Dean. "No, except the squire's boy." "Yes, Brandon's teeth are just like his father's. But of course the thief wasn't Brandon." "Look here, Dean," said Mr. Gould quickly, "I hope you don't pay any attention to that foolish story of your uncle. He was thinking of Squire Bates, as he intended to pay him up the mortgage which he holds, and he naturally pictured him with the teeth which are his most prominent feature, so to speak. I don't fancy the squire myself, but I think he is in better business than disguising himself and robbing his neighbors." "No doubt you are right, Mr. Gould," said Dean; but in spite of his words, and absurd as he admitted the suspicion to be, he could not help dwelling upon his uncle's story. The next day Adin Dunham kept his bed. The shock to his system was such that his strength gave away, and the doctor was summoned. "Adin," said his wife, anxious to clear up her doubts as to his sanity, "can you describe the man that robbed you?" "Why should I describe him? You know how he looks as well as I do." "How should I know, Adin?" "It was Squire Bates, I tell you. You know how he looks." The poor woman went out of the room, and raised her apron to her eyes.