ow on this day； James Starr's ideas were boiling fast。
But suddenly an unexpected incident occurred。 This was the drop of cold water； which in a moment was to condense all the vapors of the brain。 About six in the evening； by the third post； Starr's servant brought him a second letter。 This letter was enclosed in a coarse envelope； and evidently directed by a hand unaccustomed to the use of a pen。 James Starr tore it open。 It contained only a scrap of paper； yellowed by time； and apparently torn out of an old copy book。
On this paper was written a single sentence； thus worded：
〃It is useless for the engineer James Starr to trouble himself； Simon Ford's letter being now without object。〃
No signature。
CHAPTER II ON THE ROAD
THE course of James Starr's ideas was abruptly stopped； when he got this second letter contradicting the first。
〃What does this mean？〃 said he to himself。 He took up the torn envelope； and examined it。 Like the other； it bore the Aberfoyle postmark。 It had therefore e from the same part of the county of Stirling。 The old miner had evidently not written it。 But； no less evidently； the author of this second letter knew the overman's secret； since it expressly contradicted the invitation to the engineer to go to the Yarrow shaft。
Was it really true that the first munication was now without object？ Did someone wish to prevent James Starr from troubling himself either uselessly or otherwise？ Might