ers. And you thought you was safe, I cal'late.
And then Bos'n turns up right in your own town, right acrost the road
from you! By the big dipper! it's enough to make a feller believe that
the Almighty does take a hand in straightenin' out such things, when us
humans bungle 'em--it is so!

"Course I ain't sure, Heman, what you meant to do when you found that
the child you'd stole that money from was goin' to be under your face
and eyes till you or she died. I cal'late you was afraid I'd find
somethin' out, wan't you? I presume likely you thought that I, not
havin' quite the reverence for you that the rest of the Bayporters
have, might be sharp enough or lucky enough to smell a rat. Perhaps you
suspicioned that I knew the Everdeans. Anyhow, you wanted to get the
child as fur out of your sight and out of my hands as you could--ain't
that so? And when her dad turned up, you thought you saw your chance.
Heman, you answer me this: Ain't it part of your bargain with Thomas
that when he gets his little girl, he shall take her and clear out, away
off somewheres, for good? Ain't it, now--what?"

The monument was swaying, was swinging from side to side, but it did not
quite fall--not then. The congressman's cheeks hung flabby, his forehead
was wet, and he shook from head to foot; but he clenched his jaws and
made one last attempt at defiance.

"I--I don't know what you mean," he declared. "You--you seem to be
accusing me of something. Of stealing, I believe. Do you understand who
I am? I have some influence and reputation, and it is dangerous to--to
try to frighten me. Proofs are required in law, and--"

"S-s-h-h! You know I've got the proofs. They were easy enough to get,
once I happened on the track of 'em. Lord sakes, Heman, I ain't a fool!
What's the use of your pretendin' to be one? There's the deed out in
'Frisco, with yours and John's name on it. There's the records to prove
the sale. There's the receipt for the seventy-five thousand signed by
you, on behalf of yourself and your partner's widow. There's old man
Everdean alive and competent to testify. There's John Thayer's will on
file over to Orham. Proofs! Why, you THIEF! if it's proofs you want,
I've got enough to send you to state's prison for the rest of your life.
Don't you dare say 'proofs' to me again! Heman Atkins, you owe me,
as Bos'n's guardian, thirty-seven thousand five hundred dollars, with
interest since 1854. What you goin' to do about it?"

Here was on