"
As this letter reached Caspar's Mill in the same mail with those from
Winn and the owner of the _Whatnot_, who, in writing to the Major, had
used his old army name, and signed himself "Respectfully yours, Cap'n
Cod," it may easily be imagined that Billy Brackett's perplexity was as
nothing compared to that of his sister. What could it all mean? Winn
was alive and well; his letter brought that comfort. But what did he
mean by stating that he was on board that boat with the absurd name,
when both William and Captain Cod stated that he was not there. Then,
too, how could it be possible for those three persons, each of whom was
anxious to find one of the others, to be in a small place, such as this
Mandrake must be, for several days without running across each other?
Such stupidity was incredible, and could only be accounted for by the
fact that all three were of the masculine sex. Well, she would soon
set things to rights, and the fond mother smiled to herself to think
that it was left for her, who had remained quietly at home, to discover
the missing boy after all.
She had but a few minutes in which to catch the return mail; but when
it left, it bore three notes in her handwriting. The one directed to
Mr. Winn Caspar, Mandrake, Iowa, read as follows:
"MY DARLING BOY,--How could you leave us as you did? And why don't you
come home? Don't lose a minute in hunting up your Uncle Billy, who is
now in Mandrake.
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