Part 13 (1/2)

The Rushton boys, left alone, got out pen and paper and prepared to send the momentous news to their family at Oldtown

Up to now, letters to their Uncle Aaron had been rather hard to write

Sometimes they had been little notes of thanks for presents sent to them at Christmas or on birthdays Often--ies that their parents had forced them to write for some piece of mischief that had offended their uncle He had usually been so crusty and had so obviously resented the fact that they had ever been born to cause him trouble, that they had usually approached the task of writing with the feeling of martyrs

This tih by no reat care to get all that was rightfully his Therefore the boys knew that the letter, telling of the bare possibility of getting back such a large sum, would be very welcome

”I'd like to see his face when he reads it,” chuckled Teddy ”By the way, Fred, who shall write it, you or I?”

”You do it,” said Fred ”He's always been sorer at you than he has atthat, I'll write a line toa letter to hihed Teddy ”It will be the first time in my life”

”We really have an awful lot to thank Uncle Aaron for, although he didn't think he was doing us a favor,” replied his brother ”If it hadn't been for his insisting on it, ouldn't have gone to Rally Hall, ouldn't have lorious times we've had so far this surinned Teddy ”Don't forget that when you're counting up the advantages”

”It was a satisfaction,” grinned Fred ”But go ahead noith that letter, or on't get through by the time Bill and Lester come back”

Thus adjured, Teddy set to work He wrote at first of ordinarythe tidbit till the last When he ca terms all they had found out and all that they hoped to find in the future

”Don't forget to tell him how Ross and his ested Fred, hilad you re the addition ”I was so wrapped up in the rest of it that I'd have surely forgotten that”

At last both letters were finished and sta

”There!” reer there'll be some little excitement at home when they read that letter”

”If only we can follow it up with another one later on, telling that we have actually found the chest of gold!” said Fred

”If we do, you'll have the pleasure of writing it,” declared Teddy

”Turn about is fair play”

It was late on the following day when the letters reached the Rushton home The head of the house had not yet returned from his office in the city, and the only people in the house, besides Martha, the colored cook, were Mrs Rushton and Mr Aaron Rushton

The latter had been detained at hoia, and was in a bad teenial coia was added, he became simply intolerable Mrs Rushton's nerves had been worn to a frazzle by having hi of relief that she pounced upon the letters that Martha brought in There were several, but that from Fred was on top

”A letter fronized the writing ”I wonder what the dear boys are doing”

”Doing everybody, probably,” said her brother-in-law gloomily

”Especially that boy Teddy He's either in htn't to talk that way about Teddy,” protested Mrs

Rushton, bridling in defence of her offspring ”There are plenty of worse boys than Teddy in the world”