y implicated,
but understand that the police to-morrow will be in possession of
the facts.'

'Here,' said Hiram, showing a bundle of papers, 'are the documents.
Outside there on the curbstone stands an officer. I mean to make short
work of it. Will you behave rationally or not?'

Joslin sat down.

'What do you want?' he said at length.

'I want nothing but what is HONEST, sir--_that_ I mean to
have,' said Hiram, in a mild, but very firm tone. 'Here is the account
as it ought to be rendered. Look it over, and put your name to it.'

'Really, this will take time--a good deal of time,' said Joslin,
recovering from his stupor. 'I must consult my bookkeeper.'

'You will consult nobody, and you will settle this account before I
leave the room.'

Joslin took the document. He trembled from head to foot. He saw himself
completely circumvented.

Hiram proceeded to show him just how the account ought to stand. Very
coolly and very accurately he went through the whole.

'I suppose you are right,' said Joslin, moodily, and he affixed his
signature to the paper, and began to think he was getting off easy.
'Now, do you want anything more of me?'

'Yes,' said Hiram, 'considerably more. You own one half of the paper
mill with Mr. Burns. You must sell out to him. Here is an agreement to
sell, drawn ready for your signature.'

'D----d if I will do it for all Burnsville! You've settled with me, and
you can't stir a peg farther. Outwitted yourself this time!' said
Joslin, triumphantly.

'Not quite so fast. _You_ have settled with Mr. Burns by signing that
paper, which gives the lie to your other accounts, and is so much
evidence for me before a police court; but Mr. Burns has _not_ settled
with you, and _won't_ settle with you till you bind yourself, by signing
this document, to sell out to him, on reasonable terms.'

Joslin was again struck dumb.

'You will receive,' continued Hiram, 'just what you paid for it, less my
expenses, and charges for my time and trouble in coming to New York,
counsel fees, and so forth; and you may think yourself fortunate in
falling into conscientious hands!'

Not to pursue the interview farther, Hiram accomplished just exactly
what he undertook to do before he entered Joslin's store that morning.
The accounts were made right, and Hiram turned to leave the store with
the agreement to sell in his pocket. He stopped before going out.

'Mark you,' he said; 'when Joel Burns gets a clea