I'm
the only one that's out--all I've spent--"

"Yas, bot I got heem. You not--all ofer de vorl. Dey vas bot' coom
back, dot's all," and so they parted.

Every one was glad and rejoiced over the return of the young men, with
a sense of relief that resulted in hilarity, and no one would leave
until he had had a chance to grasp the hands of the "boys." The men of
the jury lingered with the rest, all eager to convince their friends
that they would never have found the prisoner guilty of the charge
against him, and at the same time chaffing each other about their
discussions, and the way in which one and another had been caught by
the evidence and Peter's changed appearance.

At last the doors of the courthouse opened, and the Judge, and Milton
Hibbard, Peter Junior, his father, and the lawyers, and Larry and
Richard walked out in a group, when shouting and cheering began anew.
Before descending the steps, the Elder, with bared head, stepped
forward and stood regarding the people in silence, and the noise of
shouting and cheering stopped as suddenly as it began. The devout old
man stood erect, but his words came to them brokenly.

"My friends and my neighbors, as you all know, I have this day been
saved--from committing, in my blindness and my stubbornness, a great
crime,--for which the Lord be thanked. Unworthy as I am, this day my
son has been restored to me, fine and strong, for which the Lord be
thanked. And here, the young man brought up as a brother to him, is
again among you who have always loved him,"--he turned and took
Richard by the hand, and waited a moment; then, getting control of
himself, once more continued--"for which again, I say, the Lord be
thanked.

"And now let me present to you one whom many of you know already, who
has returned to us after many years--one whom in the past I have
greatly wronged. Let me here and now make confession before you all,
and present him to you as a man--" He turned and placed his hand on
Larry's shoulder. "Let me present him to you as a man who can forgive
an enemy--even so far as to allow that man who was his enemy to claim
him forevermore as--as--brother--and friend,--Larry Kildene!" Again
cheers burst forth and again were held back as the Elder continued.
"Neighbors--he has sent us back my son. He has saved me--more than
me--from ruin and disaster, in these days when ruin is abroad in the
land. How he has done it you will soon learn, for I ask you all to
come round