It came nearly four weeks ago.

And think, Hank, I've got a sister--grown and handsome, too, I'll bet." Ecstasy had almost made the letter incoherent.

It was written first by one and then another hand, with frequent interchanges; and DeGolyer; who fancied that he could pick character oat of the marks of a pen, thought that a mother's heart had overflowed and that a hard, commercial hand had cramped itself to a strange employment--the expression of affection.

The father deplored the fact that his son could not be reached by telegraph, and still more did he lament his inability, on account of urgent business demands, to come himself instead of sending a letter.

"Admit of no delay, but set out for home at once," the father commanded.