---"

He stammered and stopped, unable to begin exactly as he desired, and
the little woman said quietly, but in a tone which told that the
words came from her heart:

"You have saved the old home, an' my life as well, Seth. Even if I had
hesitated at making you one of the family, I could not do so now,
after owing you so much."

"Don't talk like that, Aunt Hannah! Don't tell 'bout what you owe me!"
Seth cried tearfully. "It's the other way, an' Snip an' I are mighty
lucky, if for no other reason than that we've seen you. Wait a
minute," he pleaded as the invalid was about to speak. "Ever since you
got hurt I've wanted to tell everything you asked the other day, an' I
promised Snip an' myself that I'd do it the very first chance. If
it----"

"There is no need of your tellin' me, my child, unless you really
think it necessary. I have no doubts as to your honesty, and truly
hope that your wanderings are over."

"We shall have to go; but I'm bound to tell the truth now, 'cause I
know you think I was tryin' to steal somethin' when we were only goin'
to run away so's you wouldn't know what I've done."

"My dear boy," and Aunt Hannah vainly tried to raise her head, "I
never thought for a single minute that you came downstairs for any
other purpose than to leave the house secretly."

"An' that's jest the truth. Now don't say a word till I've told you
all about it, an' please not look at me."

Then, speaking hurriedly lest she should interrupt him in what was an
exceedingly difficult task, Seth told of the advertisement, of the
counterfeit money he had unwittingly passed, and of his flight, aided
by Teddy and Tim.

"I didn't mean to do it," he concluded, amid his sobs; "but I reckon
I'd tried to get rid of it some time, 'cause I couldn't afford to lose
so much money. Of course they'll put me in jail, if the detectives
catch me, an' if I should be locked up for ever so many years, won't
you let Gladys take care of poor little Snippey?"

"Come here an' kiss me, Seth," Aunt Hannah said softly. "I wish I
could put my hand on your head! And you've been frightened out of your
wits because of that counterfeit nickel?" she added when he had
obeyed. "You poor little child! If you had told me, your troubles
would soon have come to an end; but you must understand that in this
world the only honest course is to atone for your faults, rather than
run away from them. The good Book says that 'your sins shall find you
out,' and i