“But you must not leave us,” Mrs. Witherspoon declared, coming forward.

“Yes, my mission here is ended.”

“You shan’t go, Hank,” young Witherspoon cried.

“Henry,” said DeGolyer, “I did as you requested.  Now it is your time to obey.  Keep quiet!” He stood erect; he had the bearing of a master.  He turned to Witherspoon.  “Here is a check for the amount of money you advanced me, with interest added.”

Witherspoon stepped back.  “I refuse to take it,” he said.

“But you shall take it.  I have sold the paper at a profit, and it has made money almost from the first.  Do as I tell you.  Take this check.”

The merchant took the check, and it shook in his hand.  DeGolyer now addressed Mrs. Witherspoon.  “You have indeed been a mother to me.  No gentler being ever lived, and till the day of my death I shall remember you with affection.”

“Oh, this is all so strange!” she cried, weeping.

“Yes, but everything is strange, when we come to think of it.  God bless you.  Sister,”—­Ellen gave him her hands,—­“good-by.”

He kissed the girl, and then kissed Mrs. Witherspoon.  Henry came toward him, but DeGolyer stopped him with a wave of his hand.  “My dear boy, I’m not going out of the world.  No, you mustn’t grab hold of me.  Stand where you are.  You shall hear from me.  Mr. Witherspoon, this time you must get up a statement without my help—­I mean for the newspapers.  I know that I have caused you a great deal of worry, but it is a pretty hard matter to live a lie even when it is imposed as a duty.  By the way, a poor sea captain, Atkins is his name, brought Henry from Dura.  I wish you would send him a check, care Wharfmaster, New Orleans.”

“I will.”

“Good-by, Mr. Witherspoon.”

“Henry DeGolyer,” said Witherspoon, grasping his hand, “you are the most honorable man I ever met.”

“There, now!” DeGolyer cried, holding up his hand—­they all were coming toward him—­“do as I tell you and remain where you are.”

He caught up his bag and hastened out.  “To the Star office,” he said to the cabman.

CHAPTER XXXV.

CONCLUSION.

“I’d began to think that you’d forgotten to come,” said Miss Drury, as DeGolyer entered the room.  She was sitting at her desk, and hits of torn paper were scattered about her.

“I’m sorry that I kept you waiting so long,” he replied.  He did not sit down, but stood near her.

“Oh, it hasn’t been so very long,” she rejoined.  “Why, how you have changed since yesterday,” she added, looking at him.

“For the worse?” he asked.

“For the better; you look more like the heir to a great fortune.”

He smiled.  “I am an heir to freedom, and that is the greatest of fortune.”

“Oh, now you are trying to mystify me again; and you said that to-day you would make everything clear.”