She dropped her eyes in thought and stared at the carpet for a time. Then she asked gruffly:
“What do you demand?”
“First,” replied Mr. Spaythe, “you must resign as administrator and petition the probate court to appoint some one in your place. You must furnish an exact statement of the money received and turn over the entire amount to the new administrator, for the sole benefit of Toby Clark. In addition to this, we demand that you sign a statement, for publication, saying that your blue box was not stolen, but merely mislaid, and that you have recovered the entire contents. You will add that Toby Clark has been unjustly accused. I have prepared a statement to this effect which is all ready for you to sign, and the governor will witness it, so that it will never be questioned.”
“But somebody stole that box,” cried the woman, “and whoever it was ought to suffer for it.”
“Somebody stole Toby Clark’s inheritance,” replied Mr. Spaythe. “I do not think it necessary for one to suffer for either crime, if amends are fully made and no lasting evil can result.”
Mrs. Ritchie frowned. She looked from one to another and saw no signs of relenting in any face. Even Kellogg’s fat face wore a sneer as he regarded her.
So she surrendered.
“I’ll sign the papers,” she said.