eased. That Irishman is shrewd and
to the last penny accurate. All your goods delivered by Dever's stage,
or other freight, with receipts for the same are recorded. All the goods
brought in through Jean's agency have been carefully tabulated. This
record, sworn to before old Joseph Mead, Cris's father, as notary, and
witnessed by Cam Gentry, Cris Mead, and Dr. Hemingway, lies sealed and
safe in the bank vault.

"One piece of your trickery has a double bearing; here, and in another
line. Your books show that gold rings, a watch chain, sundry articles of
a woman's finery charged to Marjory Whately, taken from her mother's
income, were given as presents to another girl. Among them are a
handsome fur collar which Lettie Conlow had on this very morning, and
some beautiful purple ribbon, a large bow of which fastened with a
valuable pin set with brilliants I have here."

He opened a drawer of his desk and lifted out the big bow of purple
ribbon which Lettie lost on the day Marjie and I went out to the haunted
cabin. "In your stupid self-conceit you refused to grant a measure of
good common sense and powers of observation to those about you. I have
seen your kind before; but not often, thank God!"

My father paused, and the two sat in silence for a few moments. Judson
evidently fancied his case closed and he was beginning to hunt for a way
out, when his accuser spoke again.

"Your business transactions, however, rank as they are, cannot equal
your graver deeds. Human nature is selfish, and a love of money has
filled many a man's soul with moth and rust. You are not the only man
who, to get a fortune, turned the trick so often that when an
opportunity came to steal, he was ready and eager for the chance. Some
men never get caught, or being known, are never brought to the bar of
account; but you have been found out as a thief and worse than a thief;
you have tried to destroy a good man's reputation. With words that were
false, absolutely false, you persuaded a defenceless woman that her
noble husband--wearing now the martyr's crown of victory--you persuaded
her, I say, that this man had done the things you yourself have done in
his name--that he was a business failure, a trickster, and an embezzler.
With Tell Mapleson and James Conlow and some of that Confederate gang
from Fingal's Creek, swearing to false affidavits, you made Mrs. Whately
believe that his name was about to be dishonored for wrongs done in his
business and f