In this way the trouble left as a legacy by the wicked Colonel came to an end. Frisco was duly tried, and on the confession of Petronella he was acquitted. A very meagre report of the proceedings appeared in the newspapers. In taking down the confession Herrick had not inserted the fact of Mrs. Marsh's connection with the matter. Frisco said nothing to his counsel about the three shots fired after the Colonel was dead. Therefore the name of Stephen's step-mother was spared the disgrace of her mad impulsive act. For obvious reasons the most interesting part of the case was left untold, and the public never knew the complications that had ensued in searching for the assassin. Frisco was tried briefly, was acquitted, and when set free he disappeared. Where he went no one knew, and no one cared.

By the advice of Dr. Jim, Stephen paid to Belcher and Kidd the reward that he had promised for the capture of Frisco. Herrick was afraid that if it was not paid that the two might search into the matter more particularly than would be agreeable to the feelings of Marsh-Carr. Stephen saw this danger himself, and gladly sent a cheque for the money. But Belcher and Kidd will get no more business from Dr. Herrick.

"And I hope I'll never come into connection with detective business again," said Herrick earnestly, "it is all very well to read about: but in real life it is not so pleasant. However we have done with it all."

Certainly he was done with the case, but not entirely with Frisco. One day the ex-sailor arrived at Saxham, and asked to see Mr. Marsh-Carr. At the time Stephen was indoors, and luckily for him Dr. Herrick had not gone out. When the name of Frisco was given the two looked at one another in surprise. They had hoped never to hear it again.

"Shall I see him, Jim?" asked Stephen doubtfully.

"Certainly. I shall see him also," replied Herrick, "he can have come here for no good purpose. But I would rather have him as an open enemy than striking in the dark."

The consequence of this speech was that Frisco was shown into the library. He was glad to see Marsh-Carr and visibly annoyed to find that the doctor was present.

"My business is private," said Frisco.

"You must tell it to me in the presence of, Dr. Herrick," said Stephen, scenting trouble; "I do nothing without his advice."

"Worse luck," growled Frisco, and sat down with a scowl.

Herrick laughed. "You do not seem pleased that you have escaped the gallows, Frisco," he said, "or perhaps you are sorry the criminal did not turn out to be Sidney Endicotte."

"I don't care a fig who it was so long as it wasn't me," replied the ex-sailor. "Huh! fancy Carr being shot by an old hag after going through all the dangers he did. I always thought he'd have a mean end."

"This is beside the point," said Stephen, "as I suppose you did not not come here to criticise my uncle, you had better tell me your business."

"It's not pleasant business," said Frisco coolly.

"So I should expect, seeing that you have come about it," said the Squire; "however, I shall be pleased to hear what it is."

Frisco took a paper out of his pocket.

"I don't think you will," said he; "I have here, Mr. Marsh-Carr, the last will of the Colonel."

Stephen started to his feet and turned pale. Herrick, who had been listening intently, struck in: "I suppose it leaves all the money to you, Mr. Joyce-Frisco?"

"No," growled Frisco, "and you needn't Se?or. It's a good will for you if it's true what Robin says."

"And what does Robin say?"

"That you are to marry Miss Bess."

"That is perfectly true," replied Herrick coolly, "but I do not see what she has to do with your business."

"You will soon Dr. Herrick. The money is left to her."

"What," cried Stephen loudly, "Carr has left his money to Bess?"

"You bet. Here's the will," and Frisco threw it across the table. "He said she was the only man amongst the lot of you. See how honest I am Herrick. I want to make you a rich man 'cause you stood by me in trouble I never forget a pal, not me."

Meantime Stephen and Jim were looking over the paper. "Why," cried Herrick bursting into a laugh, "it's not worth the paper it's written on. Here is the Colonel's signature, but there are no witnesses."

"Ah! you see that do you," said Frisco with a chuckle, "that's so. But I tell you that if my milksop had married the girl--my fool-son Robin I mean--there would have been witnesses, and the will would have been proved in law."

"I daresay," said Stephen who sat down again with a recovered colour, "well, even if this will had have been genuine I should not have minded. There is no one I would give the money to sooner than Dr. Herrick.

"Stuff and nonsense!" cried Jim, although he reddened with pleasure at this tribute of friendship, "as if I or Bess would have taken a penny of it. Oh! I see what your game was Frisco. You wanted Robin to marry Bess, and then you would have got witnesses to this will, and taken the money from Stephen. Is that so?"

"That is so," rejoined Frisco leaning back, "as the fool could not get the girl, I tried the other plan of stopping Marsh going to the vault. That failed because of you Dr. Herrick. If it had not been for you I'd have had that money."

"You confess your villainies very coolly," said Marsh-Carr sharply, "do you know that I can lay you by the heels for that assault."

"Oh, no you can't. T'was Santiago struck you. You can't prove that I had anything to do with it. And," said Frisco impudently, "you would not if you could. Remember, I held my tongue about----"

"Yes! Yes," said Stephen hastily, "it was good of you to say nothing about my unhappy mother. I am so far indebted to you--"

"Ah! that's just what I've come about."

"What do you mean?" asked Jim sharply.

"Lord! Doc, you ain't half sharp enough. I want the Squire here to give me a thousand pounds to start afresh. I and Robin are going back to the States, and we want something to begin life on."

"That is only fair," put in Stephen eagerly, "I am----"

"Wait a bit," said Jim, "let us hear on what grounds Frisco asks you to do this."

Frisco was quite ready to show grounds. "Well in the first place I held my tongue about Mrs. Marsh firing at the dead body."

"Yes. I owe you something for that," said Stephen flushing and wincing.

"In the second," said Frisco raising his finger. "I brought you that will unwitnessed so that you can still keep the money. If Robin had got the girl I shouldn't have done that. My name as one witness and Santiago as another, and where would you be?"

"Santiago was never in this house," said Herrick, "and a will has to be signed when the testator and the witnesses are together."

"Oh, I'd have arranged all that. My own signature you could not dispute as I was Carr's right-hand man. I'd have paid Santiago half a year's income to sign. He'd have done it like a shot. And the will would have stood any test then."

"That is true enough," said Herrick reflectively, "so long as the Colonel's signature was right the rest was easy. Where did you get this will?"

"It was on his table. He must have been fooling with it when the old woman Petronella shot him. It was about this will that Mrs. Marsh made such a fuss, only she thought the money was to be left to me."

"Ah! You let that out yourself."

"Being drunk," said Frisco with a laugh, "well I took away the will and afterwards thought to use it, by marrying Robin to Bess Endicotte. But you see Mr. Marsh," he added turning to Stephen, "I did not have the witnesses names put, so you keep the money instead of handing it over to Miss Bess."

"Whether he had done so or not," cried Dr. Jim hotly, "Bess would not have taken it. The money is rightfully Stephen's."

"Ah! That brings me to the third point," said Frisco unmoved, "I worked for that money. I went through hot and cold and danger to get it. Half of it should have been mine. But Carr had the whip hand of me, so I'm out of it. Now gentlemen, I know where that cache is. If you'll give me a thousand to fit out an expedition we'll cry quits. I and Robin are going to get more treasure. Carr didn't take away the lot."

"But remember that the Indians are warned," said Herrick, "they have very likely removed the rest of the jewels."

"That's what I've got to find out," said Frisco, "and Robin is coming along with me to be made a man of. Well, these three points, Mr. Marsh, are clear enough. I ought to have half the money, but as you have the upper hand, I ask a thousand pounds--as my right."

"I certainly think you are entitled to that much," said Stephen, "what do you say, Herrick?"

"I'm with you, Steve. Give him the money."