u are, and if you agree upon a
verdict, the court will receive it. If you prefer to retire to
consider your verdict, you may do so."

The foreman of the jury then wrote the words, "Not guilty" on a piece
of paper, and writing his name under it, passed it to the others. Each
juror quickly signed his name under that of the foreman, and when it
was returned to him, he arose and said: "The jury finds the accused
not guilty."

Then for the first time every one looked at the Elder. He was seated
bowed over his clasped hands, as if he were praying, as indeed he was,
a fervent prayer for forgiveness.

Very quietly the people left the court room, filled with a reverent
awe by the sight of the old man's face. It was as if he had suddenly
died to the world while still sitting there before them. But at the
door they gathered and waited. Larry Kildene waited with them until he
spied Mary Ballard and Bertrand, with Betty, leaving, when he followed
them and gave Amalia into their charge. It was a swift and glad
meeting between Larry and his old friends, and a hurried explanation.

"I'm coming to tell you the whole, soon, but meantime I've brought
this lovely young lady for you to care for. Go with them, Amalia, and
tell them all about yourself, for they will be father and mother and
sister to you. I've found my son--I've a world to tell you, but now I
must hurry back and comfort my brother-in-law a bit." He took Mary's
hand in his and held it a moment, then Bertrand's, and then he
relieved the situation by taking Betty's and looking into her eyes,
which looked tearfully back at him. Stooping, as if irresistibly drawn
to her, he touched her fingers with his lips, and then lightly her
hair. It was done with the grace of an old courtier, and he was gone,
disappearing in the courthouse.

For a good while the crowd waited around the doors, neighbor visiting
with neighbor and recounting the events of the trial that had most
impressed them, and telling one and another how they had all along
felt that the young prisoner was no other than Peter Junior, and
laying all the blame on the Elder's reckless offer of so large a
reward. Nels Nelson crept sulkily back to the stable, and G. B. Stiles
returned to the hotel and packed his great valise and was taken to the
station in the omnibus by Nels Nelson. As they parted, G. B. Stiles
asked for the paper he had given the Swede.

"It's no good to you or any one now, you know. You're out nothing.