CHAPTER II.
Before noon the next day it was known throughout Burnt Ridge Valley that Dr.Duchesne had performed a difficult operation upon an unknown man, who had been picked up unconscious from a fall, and carried to Burnt Ridge Ranch.

But although the unfortunate man's life was saved by the operation, he had only momentarily recovered consciousness--relapsing into a semi-idiotic state, which effectively stopped the discovery of any clue to his friends or his identity.

As it was evidently an ACCIDENT, which, in that rude community--and even in some more civilized ones--conveyed a vague impression of some contributary incapacity on the part of the victim, or some Providential interference of a retributive character, Burnt Ridge gave itself little trouble about it.

It is unnecessary to say that Mr.and Mrs.Forsyth gave themselves and Josephine much more.

They had a theory and a grievance.