if you aint a scamp down to your heel-taps, get up out of that chair like a
man, treat your wife as she deserves for letting you off so easy, and don't
make her change her mind by acting as if you, and not her, was the wronged
person."

At heart Ferguson was a weak, cowardly, selfish creature, whose chief aim in
life was to have things to suit himself. When they ceased to be agreeable, he
was ready for a change, without much regard for the means to his ends. He had
always foreseen the possibility of the event which had now taken place, but,
like all self-indulgent natures, had hoped that he might escape detection.

Alida, moreover, had won a far stronger hold upon him than he had once
imagined possible. He was terribly mortified and cast down by the result of
his experiment, as he regarded it. But the thought of a prison and hard labor
speedily drew his mind away from this aspect of the affair. He had been
fairly caught, his lark was over, and he soon resolved that the easiest and
safest way out of the scrape was the best way. He therefore raised his head
and came forward with a penitent air as he said: "It's natural I should be
overwhelmed with shame at the position in which I find myself. But I see the
truth of your words, and I'll try to make it all right as far as I can. I'll
go back with you and Hannah to my old home. I've got money in the bank, I'll
sell out everything here, and I'll pay you, William, as far as I can, what
you've spent. Hannah is mighty good to let me off so easy, and she won't be
sorry. This man is witness to what I say," and the detective nodded.

"Why, Ferguson," said Mr. Hackman effusively, "now you're talking like a man.
Come and kiss him, Hannah, and make it all up."

"That's the way with you men," said the woman bitterly. "These things count
for little. Henry Ferguson must prove he's honest in what he says by deeds,