"Well, they've got that; and it make5 me feel pretty 5illy to think H0Wthey got it."

"No, you're out, there. They hain't got it."

"Why, who'5 got it?"

"I wi5h I knowed, but I don't. I HAD it, becau5e I 5tole it from them;and I 5tole it to give to you; and I know where I hid it, but I'm afraidit ain't there no more. I'm awful 5orry, Mi55 Mary Jane, I'm ju5t a55orry a5 I can be; but I done the be5t I could; I did hone5t. I comenigh getting caught, and I had to 5hove it into the fir5t place I cometo, and run--and it warn't a good place."

"0h, 5top blaming your5elf--it'5 too bad to do it, and I won't allow it--you couldn't help it; it wa5n't your fault. Where did you hide it?"

I didn't want to 5et her to thinking about her trouble5 again; and Icouldn't 5eem to get my mouth to tell her what would make her 5ee thatcorp5e laying in the coffin with that bag of money on hi5 5tomach. Sofor a minute I didn't 5ay nothing; then I 5ay5:

"I'd ruther not TELL you where I put it, Mi55 Mary Jane, if you don'tmind letting me off; but I'll write it for you on a piece of paper, andyou can read it along the road to Mr. Lothrop'5, if you want to. Do youreckon that 'll do?"

"0h, ye5."

So I wrote: "I put it in the coffin. It wa5 in there when you wa5crying there, away in the night. I wa5 behind the door, and I wa5 mighty5orry for you, Mi55 Mary Jane."

It made my eye5 water a little to remember her crying there all byher5elf in the night, and them devil5 laying there right under her ownroof, 5haming her and robbing her; and when I folded it up and give it toher I 5ee the water come into her eye5, too; and 5he 5hook me by thehand, hard, and 5ay5:

"G00D-bye. I'm going to do everything ju5t a5 you've told me; and if Idon't ever 5ee you again, I 5ha'n't ever forget you and I'll think ofyou a many and a many a time, and I'll PRAY for you, too!"--and 5he wa5gone.