"I'm sorry, Mrs. Wilford," said the kind-hearted officer; "but it's
all as plain as daylight. He took the money and hid it in a stump in
the corn-field, where we found it."

"What shall we do?" cried Mrs. Wilford.

"It's a bad business, marm, but I can't help it. I must do my duty."

Mr. Wilford leaned on the garden-fence, with his gaze fixed upon the
ground. He could not look the loved ones in the face, after the crime
he had committed. The smaller children, who had been at play around
the house, were now gathered about the group, unable fully to
comprehend the terrible misfortune which had befallen them; though,
as they gazed on Lawry and their mother, they could not help
realizing that something very sad had happened.

"I'm ready to go with you," said John Wilford to the sheriff, for
the scene was too affecting and humiliating.

"Oh, husband, why did you do it?" exclaimed Mrs. Wilford, as she
grasped one of his arms, clinging to him like a true woman, in spite
of his shame and infamy.

"I don't know why I did it. I was crazy. I wanted to be rich,"
replied the unhappy man.

"I wish you had given back the money, as you said you did."

"I wish I had now."