“We must have a talk with Nort to-morrow, and find out all the particulars of your father’s death,” went on my real uncle. “I am not at all satisfied with the story he has told to you. If I remember rightly your father was a very careful man.” He stopped suddenly, and then changed the subject, asking me how I got along at the mill, and if business was good. “I came partly to offer your father an interest in a ranch I am on the point of buying in New Mexico,” he said, when I had related how matters stood. “I know the Bend is a dull place, and I have got an opening where I think you would do very well.” “I would be glad to leave the Bend,” I replied. “I think I could do better in some new and lively place.” My uncle gave a laugh. “I don’t know as a ranch is such a lively place; but it will give you a chance to make money.” “Then that’s lively enough for me,” I returned. We spent the evening in getting acquainted. I found Mr. Norton a splendid, whole-souled man, and took to him immediately; and I was glad to note that this feeling seemed to be reciprocated. On the following morning we started for Bend Center at an early hour. Almost the first person we met was Constable Pointer, who had just come over from Bayport. “What luck?” I asked. “We’ve got the diamonds!” he replied; “and the Catch Me too.” “You mean that you didn’t catch Avery?” “We caught him, but he gave Captain Harley the slip in Loadhead. We hope to get him to-day.” But I may as well add right here that Avery was never captured, nor was he ever heard from after that day. I introduced my uncle to Pointer, and also to Ford, who came up while we were talking. The mill-hand was highly pleased as well as astonished to meet the stranger. “Good fellow, I guess,” he whispered to me. “Beats the bogus Norton all to bits!” “You are right, Dan,” I returned. It did not take my real uncle long to pick up some old acquaintances, who soon recognized him. All wondered that they had been deceived, and they attributed it to the similar family appearance that was common to both men. Then we sailed over to Bayport, and made our way to the court-house. Judge Green was not yet present; but when the matter was explained, the jailer readily consented to allow Mr. Norton to interview the prisoner who had so misrepresented himself. CHAPTER XXXIII. A HAPPY ENDING. It will be needless to dwell upon Bixby’s astonishment when confronted by my uncle. He turned all sorts of colors. “I――I thought you were in New Mexico!” he gasped. “I am glad I am not,” was my uncle’s reply. “Now, Nort, I want you to make a clean breast of this whole matter.” “Will you help me in my case if I do?” he asked. “I certainly won’t help you if you don’t,” was the reply. “Tell me all; and I will see to it that you have a lawyer when your case comes to trial.”