For years it had lain concealed among the old burglar’s treasures, mixed up with the contents of the box stolen from the Hall, and thrust away together by the thief in a secure hiding place. Josh Heckett little knew the value of the bit of paper that had kept the stolen jewels company, to see the light when on his death-bed he wished to make reparation for the past.
‘Heckett!’ exclaimed George excitedly, holding the paper up; ‘there is the band of Providence in this! You have done much evil in your long life, I fear; but now, lying here near your end, God has made you the instrument of His sovereign justice. You have united the husband and wife whom you helped to separate—you have restored an honest man his good name, and a disinherited son his rightful fortune!’
‘Have I done all that?’ exclaimed Josh, sinking back on his pillows exhausted. ‘Lord, Lord, only to think on it!’
‘You have done all this, my poor fellow,’ said George, lifting the old man’s head gently and putting the pillows right—‘all this and more. You have made me the happiest man on earth!’
‘I’ve made somebody happy at last,’ sighed Josh, closing his eyes. ‘Don’t speak for a minute or two; I want to lie still and feel what doin’ good be like.’
The little group sat silent when Josh Heckett lay with closed eyes, his thoughts wandering far away into the past.
He was the first to speak.
‘Gertie!’
‘Yes, grandfather.’
‘Would you like to read my gal’s Bible to me?’