roved his opportunity of punishing and humbling
her.

"Madam Sturtevant, ah--er--hm-m--at the time your guilty son
disappeared, taking my son--whom his influence had ruined--with him, it
was said that a certain casket of valuables disappeared as well. In
behalf of the interest Marsden took in the case, and of my own--my own
personal interest, I demand that if that casket has been restored it
shall be opened here in the presence of your townsmen. I--er--my
accommodation in times of your necessities, the large amounts now due
me--I claim the right, the authority to say--Let the casket be
produced."

Madam said nothing. She fixed her large eyes, still guiltless of
spectacles (save in the privacy of home), and regarded him as she might
have regarded some reptile.

Nathan seemed struggling with words which fear of his father prevented
his speaking. But Miss Maitland stepped down, and, by a nod, summoned
others to her, so that the vagrant presently felt himself surrounded by
a group of kindly faces, which beamed upon him in protection. William,
Deacon Meakin, the chivalrous schoolmaster, Susanna, and Katharine,
quite unafraid to fling her small arm around his stooping shoulders and
to pat them encouragingly.

Then Aunt Eunice went out, but was back again so quickly she had hardly
been missed. She carried her hands quite high, so that all might see the
strange, glittering, brass bound box they held, and, going swiftly
forward, laid it on the Madam's lap, who recoiled from it, at first
shrinking back and letting her clasped hands drop limply to her sides,
yet rallied her courage and her pride as Eunice's tone of command
touched both.

"Open it, Elinor. It is right. It is just. Let the truth be known at
last."

Everybody crowded forward, the Squire among them, as with a simple
touch, known only to the initiated, the keyless casket was unbanded and
opened to the sight of all. Those who had anticipated the blaze of
jewels, or, at least, the bulk of valuable papers and bonds, fell back
disappointed. The box was absolutely empty save for a small folded sheet
which looked like an ordinary letter.

A sigh, like a great sob, swept over the multitude, and now the fear
which had troubled the tramp vanished, and, breaking free of the group
about him, he laid his hand on Madam's knee and cried, exultantly:

"I did it! I fetched it safe. I was sick--oh, I was sick!--I was in
jail--I was on an island--I was shipwrecked--I was in t