“Will is right,” said Jennie, in a low tone, and deeply blushing. “Mr. Elkton and I have been engaged for some time. I wish now to present him to my new father.”
“And I hope he may prove a dutiful son,” said Elkton, as he warmly grasped Mr. Somers’s extended hand.
“I do not know you,” said the father, with a happy smile, “but I trust in the choice of my daughter, and in the discretion of Mr. Leonard.”
“And in Mr. Elkton’s face,” cried Will. “That’s a passport to honesty.”
“Thank you,” said John, turning and offering his hand to the impulsive boy. “You have placed me under obligations to live out the promise of my face.”
“Told Jennie once I was bound to cut you out,” said Will. “Guess now though that I’ll let you have her. She’s a good girl. Make much of her.”
“She’s all the world to me,” said John, turning and taking the hand of the blushing girl.
It was a happy family party which time and fortune had thus reunited, after a life of many vicissitudes, and it is time we should leave them, and seek other less happy inmates of our story.
The capture of the burglars was an event which produced a considerable sensation in police circles, and Mr. Fitler gained great praise for his shrewdness in working out this case. Of course Will’s share in the business was credited to him, and quietly accepted.
A complete search of Black-eyed Joe’s domicile brought to light the fruits of other burglaries. It was evident that the thing had been of long continuance, the goods being gradually sold as fast as they could safely be put on the market. The goods had been sold cheap on the pretense of being smuggled.