"We would like to hear the particulars in regard to the finding of the letters, Mr. Meiggs," said the postmaster. "I can give them in a very few words, Mr. Rimmon. I was riding up from Greenbrier, and got up to within about a mile of Hollow Tree, when I thought I heard the rustling of paper in the bushes by the roadside. Stopping my horse, I hadn't listened a great while before I knew I was right." "Still I didn't think anything strange of that, and I was just going to start along, when I thought I saw a bit of paper sticking out of a hollow stump growing, or rather standing, for I suppose it had got done growing, two or three rods away from the road. "I had the curiosity to investigate, so I got off my horse and went up to the stump of a tree. Sure enough, there was a letter a-sticking out of a crack in the dead tree. I pulled it out to find it was one of them registered letters which had been lost or something done with them. "I began to look about the place, and to reward me for my trouble I found all three of them registered letters of Mr. Warfield's, and I also found one telltale letter sent to Dix Lewis. All of them were opened just as I show them to you." It seemed a long time before any one spoke, after Mr. Meiggs' statement. "Let me see the letters," said the postmaster, reaching out his hand for them. "Reckon that will be all the evidence you will need to show who the guilty party is," said Meiggs, as he passed the letters to the other. "These are no doubt the missing letters," allowed the postmaster, "but I fail to see how this proves that Dix Lewis put them there." "Who did, if he didn't?" demanded Clevis Claverton. "I do not pretend to answer that. It is a mystery that remains to be cleared up." "Has the contents been taken from all of them?" asked Mr. Warfield, looking over Mr. Rimmon's shoulder, as the latter examined the pieces of mail matter. "The letters are here, but the money which they evidently contained is missing." "Of course," said Dan Shag, with a shake of his head; "that was what he was after." Little Snap had remained silent during this scene, but he was about to speak, when the gruff voice of Justice Claverton fell on the ears of the anxious throng. "Mr. John Rimmon, I feel obliged to say to you that I have so far examined the laws and statutes as to find that you are not eligible to be on this young culprit's bail, seeing that you are already holding an office under the United States Government. Uncle Sam is pretty careful in that respect. "In that case, Mr. Warfield, of course, wishes to be released, so the prisoner is left without any bonds. It is therefore my duty to command Sheriff Brady to take him to jail, there to await his trial at the next term of court. "Mr. Brady, in my official capacity, I now order you to carry out the mandates of the law." At this announcement greater excitement than ever reigned, during which the sheriff pushed his way through the crowd toward the postboy.