“The thief was as much astonished as the Mayor at this turn in his affairs, but he had no difficulty in recognizing Tip-Top as his younger brother.
“‘He certainly is a man of talent,’ said the Mayor, ‘and it is a pity that he should be executed.’
“Then the thief fell on his knees and begged the Mayor to pardon him, promising him to live and die an honest man. And he kept his promise. He engaged in business, and, aided by Tip-Top’s advice and influence, made a large fortune.”
“What became of the Talking-Saddle?” asked Buster John.
“Well,” replied Mr. Thimblefinger, “Tip-Top hung the saddle in his front porch, as you have seen farmers do. He thought a great deal of it.”
THE MAYOR PARDONING THE THIEF
“I’ve read something about the great thief,” remarked Buster John. “But the story didn’t end that way. The thief escaped every time.”
“Oh, well, you know how some people are,” exclaimed Mrs. Meadows. “They want everything to happen just so; even a thief must be a big man if he’s in a story; but I don’t believe anybody ever stole anything yet without getting into trouble about it.”