free gift to Miss Marie du Page。〃
Kitty threw her arms around her white and breathless friend with
a joyful cry； and honest Gabriel's face shone with unselfish
gratification。
〃For yourself； my dear Gabriel； you must be satisfied with the fact
that Messrs。 Peter Gunn & Sons will take back your wildcat stock at
the price you paid for it。 It is the price they pay for their
share in this little transaction； as I had the honor of pointing
out to Mr。 Gunn on our way to the station this morning。〃
〃Then you think that young Mr。 Gunn knew that Flint was his
relation； and that he had stolen father's money；〃 said Kitty； 〃and
that Mr。 Gunn only wanted to〃 She stopped； with flashing eyes。
〃I think he would have liked to have made an arrangement； my dear；
that would keep the secret and the property in the family；〃 said
Uncle Sylvester。 〃But I don't think he suspected the existence of
the second treasure here。〃
〃And then； sir；〃 said Cousin Jane； 〃it appears that all these
wretched； unsatisfactory scraps of stories you were telling us were
nothing after all but〃
〃My way of telling THIS one；〃 said Uncle Sylvester。
As the others were eagerly gathering around the unearthed treasure；
Marie approached him timidly； all her audacity gone； tears in her
eyes； and his ring held hesitatingly between her fingers。 〃How can
I thank youand how CAN you ever forgive me？〃
〃Well；〃 said Uncle Sylvester； gazing at her critically； 〃you might
keep the ring to think over it。〃
End