The nieces did not tell her of their newly conceived hopes that the young couple would presently possess enough money to render their future comfortable, because there were so many chances that Bob West might win the little game being played.

But at this moment Ethel did not need worldly wealth to make her heart light and happy, for she had regained her childhood's friend, and his injuries only rendered the boy the more interesting and companionable.
Meantime Uncle John had been busily thinking.

It annoyed him to be so composedly defied by a rascally country merchant, and he resolved, if he must fight, to fight with all his might.
So he wired to his agent in New York the following words: "What part of the Almaquo timber tract burned in forest fire three years ago ?" The answer he received made him give a satisfied grunt.
"No forest fires near Almaquo three years ago.

Almadona, seventy miles north, burned at that time, and newspaper reports confounded the names." "Very good!" exclaimed Uncle John.

"I've got the rascal now." He issued instructions to the lumber company to make no further payments of royalties to Robert West until otherwise advised, and this had the effect of bringing West to the farm white with rage.
"What do you mean by this action, Mr.Merrick ?" he demanded.
"We've been paying you money that does not belong to you for three years, sir," was the reply.