“That was a clincher!” muttered Dick, exultantly.
“You just bet it was,” said Leslie, under his breath. “Look at the way he fixes his eyes on Billy, will you? There, the little chap is holding out both hands to his grandfather. Can he resist that, do you think? Well, I guess nixey.”
Indeed, a grim smile was spreading over the strong features of Deacon Nocker. He was a man who had seldom been beaten in any business enterprise that had engaged his attention, so that the sensation of losing was no doubt rather novel to him. Strange to say, he acted as if he rather enjoyed it. To yield to such an antagonist as little Billy brought pleasure in its train.
He opened wide his arms, and gathered both mother and child in his embrace. And some of the good people of Cliffwood, standing respectfully near by, including Mr. Holwell, the minister, believed they saw Deacon Nocker shedding tears for the first time on record; but they were tears of joy.
Dick heaved a great sigh of relief.
“It’s all over but the shouting,” said Leslie, with one hand shielding his eyes from the dazzling light of the burning house; though Dick knew very well there was another reason for his doing this, because Leslie had a tender heart.
“And,” said a voice close to the two boys, “I want to congratulate you both on the splendid success of your grand scheme. I was telling Mrs. Holwell this very evening, as we sat in my study after supper, that I really began to see a great change coming over our old friend here. The secret is plainly revealed; his love for little Billy has worked wonders in his heart.”
In fact, Mr. Nocker looked supremely happy as he stood there with his new-found treasures held tight in his arms. He even deigned to kiss Tilly several times, as though already he had found out his mistake in refusing to see her at the time he wrote that cruel letter.
“You will never be separated from Billy while I live,” he was telling her. “My house is big and contains many costly things but when this manly little chap comes to bring sunshine into my lonely life it will hold the greatest treasure of all.”
“Those words do you credit, Deacon Nocker,” said Mr. Holwell, unable to resist letting the old man know how he appreciated his change of heart.