then he came back to the face in its cluster of dark ringlets, framed in knives that stood quivering in the poplar board.
It was thus that my father found us when he came up.
"Have you noticed Blackford about?" he said; "I want to see him."
"No," replied Abner, "but he should be here, I think; he is at every frolic."
"I sent him the money for his cattle last night," my father went on, "and I wish to know if he got it."
Abner turned upon him at that.
"You will always take a chance with that scoundrel, Rufus," he said, "and some day you will be robbed. His lands are covered with a deed of trust."
"Well," replied my father, with his hearty laugh, "I shall not be robbed this time. I have Blackford's request over his signature for the money, with the statement that the letter is to be evidence of its payment."
And he took an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to Abner.
My uncle read the letter to the end, and then his great fingers tightened on the sheet, and he read it carefully again, and yet again, with his eyes narrowed and his jaw protruding. Finally he looked my father in the face.
"Blackford did not write this letter!" he said.
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