This was done, but the reply received caused a halt in the preparations.
For the letter, which Shelby brought over for Crane to read, ran thus:
"DEAR MISTER SHELBY:
"I think youd better not try to take back the boddy of Mister Peter. We berried it verry deep and it better remain here. Anny way, you cant mannage it till late summer. Say about August or so."
"However, Mr. Crane," Shelby said, "if you say so, we can go ahead in spite of Joshua"s letter. He"s a good guide, but he always was a bit dictatorial."
"No," Benjamin Crane said, "I believe in taking advice from one who is undoubtedly good authority. We"ll postpone the plan until August."
When Blair was told of it he was rather relieved, for he was busy with his prize drawings and he didn"t want to leave town.
"Let"s see the letter," he said to Shelby.
"I haven"t it, Blair. I left it with Mr. Crane. But I"ve told you the gist of it."
"All right, Kit," and Blair went on with his work.
It was the next night at the Crane house that Mr. Crane again spoke of his disappointment at not putting through his hoped-for expedition.
"You see, Kit," he said to Shelby, "I want to write another book, and I want it to be about the recovery of Peter"s body."
"Oh, don"t do that, Mr. Crane," Shelby said, impulsively; "it would be anti-climax. You"ve done a big thing, and scored a success. Another book would spoil it all."
"I don"t think so," said Crane, not at all annoyed at Shelby"s att.i.tude.
"Anyway, I hate to give up my plan. See here, Shelby, are you sure that man Joshua wrote the letter you got?"
"Why, yes. What makes you ask that?"
"Only because it"s in a big sprawly hand, and once Blair showed me a letter from Joshua, which he"s kept as a memento, and it was in a small cramped hand."
"That"s queer. But I expect Joshua might have got somebody to write for him. Those half-breeds are not very scholarly, you know. However, if there"s any doubt about it, the matter must be looked into. Do you mean that maybe we can go now, after all? But I can"t help thinking that Joshua wrote that. I know he"s not very strong on spelling!"
"Well, Blair will know. You ask him for that letter he has of Joshua"s."
"All right, Mr. Crane, I will. I"ll see him to-night. There"s a dinner on at the Club, and he"ll be there. You know he"s in a fair way, I think, to get that Callender prize."
"I hope so, I"m sure. A rising young architect, Blair is, and I hope he wins it. I suppose he wouldn"t want to go to Labrador until that matter is settled?"
"No, probably not. But the award will be made this month."
"And he"s in a fair way to get it?"
"Looks that way to me. His sketches are fine, though I haven"t seen his finished work. Thorpe"s a close second, I imagine."
"I suppose I"d rather see Thorpe get it, but don"t tell Blair that. A man is naturally interested in his future son-in-law."
"Oh, it"s gone as far as that, has it?"
"Yes, but it"s not announced yet. So say nothing till Julie tells you to. She"s a dear girl, but as hard as adamant where belief in the occult is concerned."
"She and Thorpe are at one there."
"Yes, that helped the affair along, I fancy. But it"s all right. Julie can think what she likes. Peter used to hate the subject, too."
"I know it. We touched on it now and then, but he usually veered off to something else at once."
"What do you think about the pouch, Shelby? I"m not sure I ever asked you."
"I don"t think, Mr. Crane. I mean I can"t explain the thing by natural means, and I"m unable to believe in the supernatural. What more can I say?"
"Nothing. I suppose most people are like that. Thank heaven. I"m made so that I can believe!"
CHAPTER VIII
Blair Knows
Gilbert Blair was a lovable sort of chap, one of those fine, gentle natures that will put up with annoyance rather than annoy another.
Although he would have preferred to live alone, yet it was greatly to his pecuniary advantage to have Thorpe share his place, and, on the whole, they got on fairly well. But, being of different habits and temperaments, the details of their home life were not always harmonious.
Blair was methodical, liked his drawing implements and sketches kept in order, and the rooms tidy. Thorpe was not particular in these respects, and his belongings were always scattered about not only on his own tables or desk, but on Blair"s. Moreover, he did not hesitate to use his chum"s materials if his own were not immediately available.
So it happened that when Shelby stopped in on his way home from the Cranes" he found a mild war of words in progress.
"You know, old dear," Thorpe was saying, "you"d be quite welcome to use my drawing paper, and I call it rough of you to kick because I took a couple of sheets of yours."
"Couple of sheets!" exclaimed Blair, "you took six or eight, and I had only about enough to complete this series of sketches. You know how I hate to use paper that doesn"t match----"
"At it again?" said Shelby, coming in. "You two never have an out and out row, but you"re always bickering. Thorpe, you ought to mend your ways--it is a confounded nuisance to have other people using your things."
"Oh, Blair"s an old granny. It does him good to get stirred up once in a while. That paper of his----"
"I know," said Shelby, quietly, "it"s a special paper that he bought for his prize drawings--it"s not only expensive, but he wants the sheets uniform. You knew this, Thorpe, and yet you grab it and use it for your trial sketches."
"Now, now, Kit," and Blair smiled good-naturedly, "you needn"t take up my quarrel. I"m jumping on Thorpe myself."
"You jumping! You"d lie down and let him walk over you!"
"Not much, he wouldn"t!" Thorpe growled; "he"s been ballyragging me for half an hour! Not only about the paper, but he----"
"Let up, Thorpe," Blair spoke angrily, "at least let"s keep our skeletons in our closet!"
"Oh, is there a real row on?" Shelby inquired.