"Then, the packet has a most curious, cigar-like smell," said Allonby, smiling. "Now, I don't think Mr. Torrance carries loose cigars and letters about with him together. I wonder what deduction one could make from this." Hetty glanced at Miss Schuyler. "You could never make the right one, Chris," she said. Allonby said nothing further and went out with the letter; a day or two later he handed it to the Sheriff. "I guess you know what's inside it?" said the latter. "Yes," said the lad. "I want to see you count them now." The Sheriff glanced at him sharply, took out a roll of bills and flicked them over. "Yes," he said, "that's quite right; but one piece of what I have to do is going to be difficult." "Which?" said Allonby. "Well," said the Sheriff, "I guess you know. I mean the getting hold of Larry." XVII LARRY'S PERIL One afternoon several days later, Christopher Allonby drove over to Cedar Range, and, though he endeavoured to hide his feelings, was evidently disconcerted when he discovered that Miss Schuyler and Hetty were alone. Torrance had affairs of moment on hand just then, and was absent from Cedar Range frequently. "One could almost have fancied you were not pleased to see us, and would sooner have talked to Mr. Torrance," said Miss Schuyler. The lad glanced at her reproachfully. "Hetty knows how diffident I am, but it seems to me a lady with your observation should have seen the gratification I did not venture to express." "It was not remarkably evident," said Miss Schuyler. "In fact, when you heard Mr. Torrance was not here I fancied I saw something else." "I was thinking," said Allonby, "wondering how I could be honest and, at the same time, complimentary to everybody. It was quite difficult. People like me generally think of the right thing afterwards, you see." Hetty shook her head. "Sit down, and don't talk nonsense, Chris," she said. "You shouldn't think too much; when you're not accustomed to it, it isn't wise. What brought you?" "I had a message for your father," said the lad, and Flora Schuyler fancied she saw once more the signs of embarrassment in his face. "Then," said Hetty, "you can tell it me." "There's a good deal of it, and it's just a little confusing," said Allonby. Flora Schuyler glanced at Hetty, and then smiled at the lad. "That is certainly not complimentary," she said. "Don't you think Hetty and I could remember anything that you can?" Allonby laughed. "Of course you could. But, I had my instructions. I was told to give Mr. Torrance the message as soon as I could, without troubling anybody." "Then it is of moment?" "Yes. That is, we want him to know, though there's really nothing in it that need worry anybody." "Then, it is unfortunate that my father is away," said Hetty. Allonby sat silent a moment or two, apparently reflecting, and then looked up suddenly, as though he had found the solution of the difficulty. "I could write him."