impse of his face?"

"No, uncle," said Tom firmly. "I never once had the slightest idea as
to whom it could be, till I began to think about it after the struggle,
and he had got away. Then I'm afraid I made sure it was he."

"Humph!"

"But if you think it was he, uncle--"

"I do think it was, Tom. I feel sure of it, my boy."

"But you won't punish him, uncle?"

"I have punished him, Tom."

"What, you knew, and you have done this?" cried Tom excitedly, as he
sprang from his seat, and caught his uncle by the arm.

"I have punished him, Tom, and most severely."

"Uncle! I'd sooner have given up the money a dozen times over. I wish
I'd never known of it. Think what it means. Why, a magistrate would
treat him like a thief."

"Well, he is a thief," said Uncle Richard sternly.

"Yes; but oughtn't we to hide it from the world, uncle? He is only a
boy, and it will spoil his whole life. I'd give the money, I say, a
dozen times over sooner than he should be punished. Boys are stupid and
thoughtless, uncle; they often do things in haste that they would not do
if they considered first, and such a little thing sometimes means so
much afterwards."

"Was this a little thing, Tom?"

"No, uncle," cried Tom piteously; "but it would be so horrible. He is
my own cousin."

"Yes, Tom, and my own brother's son."

"Yes, uncle; and he never liked me, and I never liked him, but I can't
stand by and let you punish him without saying a word."

"Then you mean to tell me, Tom, that you would let him go scot free,
sooner than have him punished for trying to take _again_ what is your
heritage?"

"Yes, uncle, I would," cried Tom excitedly, "every penny, sooner than he
and my aunt and uncle should come to disgrace."

"But they behaved badly to you, sir."

"Perhaps I deserved some of it, uncle."

"Then you must have been a bad one, Tom."

"Yes, uncle, I'm afraid so. But you will let him off? Perhaps he'll
repent and send the papers back."

"The same way as foxes do with the farmers' chickens," said Uncle
Richard, smiling.

"Uncle, it is too serious to laugh at," cried Tom indignantly. "Sam
Brandon is your own nephew."

"Yes, Tom, and all you say is in vain. I have punished him severely for
a cruel, cowardly robbery."

"But you'll do no more, uncle?" cried Tom. "Humph! Well, no, I think I
may say that I shall do no more. Possibly I shall never see him again."

"Ah, I don't mind that, uncle," cried Tom an