ckynshaw is
mean; Checkynshaw has a small soul. You could set up two such souls as
Checkynshaw's on the point of a cambric needle, and they could wander
about till the end of time without coming within hailing distance of
each other."

"Mr. Checkynshaw is not mean," replied Maggie, her pretty face red with
excitement and indignation.

"Excuse me, Miss Maggimore, but you don't know him."

"I think I do know him. He gave me the reward of five hundred dollars
for returning the papers to him," said Maggie, warmly; and the banker
might have rejoiced to be defended by so fair and spirited an advocate.

"Checkynshaw!" ejaculated Mr. Wittleworth, springing out of his chair.

About the same instant Leo closed his book savagely, and sprang to his
feet, his manly face wearing a decidedly belligerent look.

"See here, Fitz; you have said just about enough," Leo began, both
fists clinched. "Mr. Checkynshaw is a friend of ours, and we are not
going to sit here and have him abused."

"Don't be angry, Leo; he isn't worth minding," whispered Maggie in his
ear.

"Then he gave you the reward?" added Fitz, sitting down again.

"He did," replied Maggie.

"Well, that is the only white spot on the general blackness of his
character."

"No, 'tisn't!" protested Leo.

"You will excuse me, Miss Maggimore, if you think I speak too plainly;
but candor is one of the attributes of a gentleman."

"It's not necessary for you to be so very candid," suggested Maggie.

"I know the man," said Fitz, pompously. "Did I ever tell you how he
treated me and my mother? I never did. Well, I will."

"Nobody cares how he treated you and your mother," interposed Leo.

"Allow me to contradict you, Leo. I care; my mother cares; and every
person who loves justice and fairness cares."

In spite of several very pointed hints from Andre, Maggie, and Leo,
that they did not care to bear the story, Fitz persisted in telling it,
and did tell it. He declared it was his solemn conviction that Mr.
Checkynshaw had wronged his mother out of the block of stores, and ten
years' income of the same, for which he had paid her the petty
consideration of ten thousand dollars. Fitz had heard from his mother
the narrative of the second Mrs. Checkynshaw's sickness, and of the
sickness of little Marguerite, who had been taken to the cholera
hospital; and he related it all in the most painfully minute manner.

"That child was the heir of my grandfather's property," contin