True to Himself; Or, Roger Strong's Struggle for Place

over me as I read the superscription written on t

n of the mystery that had taken away our good name and s

n that for an instant I imagined the envelope was empt

from the envelope the single shoot of foolscap that it contained. A glance showed m

that I was on the track of the robber-and drawing close to the feeble light the lantern afforded

from pneumonia, do make this my last statement, w

I hoped would in some way free my father's ch

, though it ran in my mind that I had heard th

light it was only here and there that I could pick out such words as "bank," "assumed," "risk,

d give all I possess to be able to

startled me. I had just time enough to thrust the paper into

stopped short in amazement, while the short pipe he

ced the light of the lantern and full

re!" he

l I could find to reply, and as I spok

ou here?" he de

I could; and by this time I had the pistol

you wan

over the money you

ing about? I never

w Canby's house less than an hour

think I'm to be bluffed by a boy? Get home with

intend to go until you hand over the mo

u know

I had made. But I put on a bold front.

I am c

es

mean? Come,

e. In the meantime h

ike a fool!

u'll find I won

on curiously, believing, no doubt, th

ink. I know you are a bu

!" he cried, r

eturned, pulling out the p

was fairly upon me. The glint of

terror, that showed he was a cow

you do as

wh

the widow

e a mistake. I never was near the w

oke open her desk and stole

wn the pistol and I'll

n Stumpy, or whatever your na

ted the man, for he paused as

t to make some money?" he aske

n his manner

though I knew abou

ash with me. I'll give you fifty of it if y

oing business that wa

to be sneezed at," he

red me fifty thousand," I cr

on of a thief. Do you hear that?-the son of a thief! What right have you

blood fairly boiling as I

r. But what's the use of being

to be honest,"

don't think so any mo

hey may say all they please, I

um

you and Nicholas Weaver, my fa

re I knew it. They were

ed the man. "What do you

ne. When he died he

wasn't in his right min

aps h

in his pockets. "You've got that paper," he cried hoarsely. "Give it

" and I rais

t I actually believe I would have

Give up th

I'll die

's worth. If it contained that which could clear my father'

Do you think I'm to

nd b

ead. As I did so, he made a dash forward

s head, he brought it down with all his force on my arm, c

on't know everything!" Rushing over to the corner, he secured the pistol and aimed it