"Look here, Lewis! There are letters missing. I have advice that there were a certain number of registered letters in the mail, and five are not here. How do you account for that?" "I do not know, Mr. Anderson. Why should you expect me to know?" "For the very best reason in the world!" broke in Meiggs. "The reason that you know about their loss and where they are." "Is the pouch ready for me, Mr. Anderson?" asked the postboy. "The time is up." "Hear the impudence!" again broke in Meiggs. "Are you going to let him bluff you like this, Anderson?" "I don't understand it," admitted the postmaster, hesitating in his manner. "You must be knowing to this." "Are you going to let me have that mail, or must I go on without it?" asked Little Snap. "How is it the Tree mail has not been taken out?" asked Mr. Anderson. "The office was closed when I came along, and I could do no better than to bring its mail along. I will leave it in the morning." "I should think you would—after you have had a night to look it over." "I don't see as I can do any better than to let him have the bag," said Mr. Anderson. "Do so, and you will lose your own head," cried Meiggs. "This has gone as far as it is going. I understand two of those missing letters were for me. I want my letters. Now, Mr. Lewis, give up those letters, or you don't leave this yard." "I should like to see you stop me," replied Little Snap. "I know my footing, and, for the last time, I demand that mail pouch, Mr. Anderson. I am needed at home at this very moment. I have enough to contend with outside of those who should be my supporters." Little Snap showed by his tone that he was in earnest, and as he concluded, the postmaster threw the pouch across Tom's withers, saying: "Where is the man who went down with you?" "Coming on the road now, as far as I know. Come, Tom, we must get home." At that moment Morton Meiggs stepped forward to catch hold of the bridle rein, motioning to some of his followers to surround the postboy. "Stand back, sir! I warn you to get out of my pathway." He touched Tom lightly as he spoke, when the horse bounded forward at a smart canter, sending Meiggs reeling backward to the ground. Without farther interference Little Snap rode on toward Six Roads. "I wonder what has come over Mr. Anderson," he thought. "And I am more puzzled than ever for the disappearance of those letters—if any are gone this time. It don't look now as if Dan Shag had a hand in it." In consideration of the fact that he had been more than commonly on the watch on this trip, it was no wonder he felt more than ever anxious. Then the thought of the trouble at home drove the matter from his mind for the time. Little Sammy Lewis must have urged Fairy on at a rattling pace, for Little Snap did not overtake him, until as the latter was turning up at the post office, he saw his brother riding up the street toward their home.