"The FIFTH night! Do you mean to say--"

"I mean that I knew you wouldn't tell me what I wanted to know; I had to
see these books for myself and at night was the only time I could do it.
But never mind that now," she added. "We'll talk of that later. Other
things come first. Uncle Shad and Uncle Zoeth, I know not only about the
affairs of Hamilton and Company, but about my own as well."

Zoeth leaned forward and stared at her. He seemed to catch the
significance of the remark, for he looked frightened, whereas Shadrach
was only puzzled.

"You--you know what, Mary-'Gusta?" faltered Zoeth. "You mean--"

"I mean," went on Mary, "that I know where the money came from which has
paid my school bills and for my clothes and my traveling things and
all the rest. I know whose money has paid all my bills ever since I was
seven years old."

Shadrach rose from his chair. He was as frightened as his partner now.

"What are you talkin' about, Mary-'Gusta Lathrop?" he shouted. "You
know! You don't know nothin'! You stop sayin' such things! Why don't you
stop her, Zoeth Hamilton?"

Zoeth was speechless. Mary went on as if there had been no interruption.

"I know," she said, "that I haven't a penny of my own and never did have
and that you two have done it all. I know all about it--at last."