"Thou art the man!" came in low, accusing tones, and they were unmistakably Peter's.
Julie shrieked, and the accused man gave a strange, guttural sound, expressive of abject fear, and as the tall figure drew nearer, he rose to flee from its avenging shape.
Shelby didn't go far, for his progress was stopped by the burly form of Detective Weston, who advised him to sit down.
"Confess!" went on the figure that seemed to be Peter, and with wild eyes, fairly starting from their sockets at the sight, Shelby cried out, "I did, oh, Peter, I did!" and then he fell in a convulsion of fright and terror.
And then, Peter Boots himself switched on the lights, threw off his long cloak, and turned to take his mother in his arms.
"My boy, my boy!" she said, knowing intuitively and instantaneously that it was her son, alive and found.
Benjamin Crane was a picture of utter perplexity. Unable to accept the obvious, he tried for a moment to believe in a marvelous "materialization," but Peter came to him, smiling and holding out an eager hand.
"Welcome me home, Dad," he said, a quiver in his strong voice. "I know what a shock it is, but brace up and meet it,— I'm here, and very much alive. In fact, I never have been dead at all."
"Peter,—Peter," his father muttered, and fearing ill effects, Zizi came quickly to his side.
"Yes, Mr. Crane," she said in her brisk little way. "Peter Boots, home again. Never mind the spook stuff now. Cut it out,—forget it,—let him tell us of his adventures."