no more. Now I have no idea who that man was, but I want him found, and
I want him to have this money, to give away, throw away, or keep, as he
pleases. It is merely my way of testifying my gratitude to him. If I
could stay, I would find him myself; but no matter, he will be found.
This is an honest town, an incorruptible town, and I know I can trust it
without fear. This man can be identified by the remark which he made to
me; I feel persuaded that he will remember it.

"And now my plan is this: If you prefer to conduct the inquiry
privately, do so. Tell the contents of this present writing to any one
who is likely to be the right man. If he shall answer, 'I am the man;
the remark I made was so-and-so,' apply the test--to wit: open the sack,
and in it you will find a sealed envelope containing that remark. If the
remark mentioned by the candidate tallies with it, give him the money,
and ask no further questions, for he is certainly the right man.

"But if you shall prefer a public inquiry, then publish this present
writing in the local paper--with these instructions added, to wit: Thirty
days from now, let the candidate appear at the town-hall at eight in the
evening (Friday), and hand his remark, in a sealed envelope, to the Rev.
Mr. Burgess (if he will be kind enough to act); and let Mr. Burgess there
and then destroy the seals of the sack, open it, and see if the remark is
correct: if correct, let the money be delivered, with my sincere
gratitude, to my benefactor thus identified."

Mrs. Richards sat down, gently quivering with excitement, and was soon
lost in thinkings--after this pattern: "What a strange thing it is!
. . . And what a fortune for that kind man who set his bread afloat upon
the waters! . . . If it had only been my husband that did it!--for we are
so poor, so old and poor! . . ." Then, with a sigh--"But it was not my