The broker’s loss unfitted him for work, and he left the details of office work to his subordinates, while nearly all his time was spent in interviews with the police authorities or in following up faint clews.  His loss seemed to strengthen the intimacy and attachment between him and Grant, in whom he confided without reserve.  When at home in the evening he talked over with Grant, whom he found a sympathetic listener, the traits of the stolen boy, and brought up reminiscences, trifling, perhaps, but touching, under the circumstances.  To Mrs. Estabrook he seldom spoke of his son.  Her cold and unsympathetic temperament repelled him.  She had never preferred to feel any attachment for Herbert, and the boy, quick to read her want of feeling, never cared to be with her.

One morning, after Mr. Reynolds and Grant had gone out, Mrs. Estabrook, on going to the hall, saw a letter on the table, which had been left by the postman.  As curiosity was by no means lacking in the housekeeper’s composition, she took it up, and peered at the address through her glasses.

It was directed to Mr. Reynolds in a round, schoolboy hand.

Mrs. Estabrook’s heart gave a sudden jump of excitement.

“It’s Herbert’s handwriting,” she said to herself.

She examined the postmark, and found that it was mailed at Scipio, Illinois.

She held the letter in her hand and considered what she should do.  Should the letter come into the hands of Mr. Reynolds, the result would doubtless be that the boy would be recovered, and would reveal the name of his abductor.  This would subject her favorite, Willis Ford, to arrest, and probably imprisonment.

“He should have been more careful, and not allowed the boy to write,” said the housekeeper to herself.  “Willis must have been very imprudent.  If I only knew what was in the letter!”

The housekeeper’s curiosity became so ungovernable that she decided to open it.  By steaming it, she could do it, and if it seemed expedient, paste it together again.  She had little compunction in the matter.  In a few minutes she was able to withdraw the letter from the envelope and read its contents.

This is what Herbert wrote: 

“Scipio, ill.

“Dear papa:  I know you must have been very anxious about me.  I would have written you before, but I have had no chance.  Willis Ford found me playing in the street, and got me to go with him by saying you had sent for me.  I thought it strange you should have sent Mr. Ford, but I didn’t like to refuse, for fear it was true.  We went on board a steamer in the harbor, and Mr. Ford took me in a stateroom.  Then he put a handkerchief to my face, and I became sleepy.  When I waked up, we were at sea.  I don’t know where I went, but when we came to land, some time the next day, we got into the cars and traveled for a couple of days.  I begged Mr. Ford to take me home, but it made him cross.  I think he hates you and Grant, and I think he took me away to spite you.  I am sure he is a very wicked man.