CHAPTER XLVIII.
A fortnight later Mr.Harum sat at his desk in the office of Harum & Co.
There were a number of letters for him, but the one he opened first bore a foreign stamp, and was postmarked "Napoli." That he was deeply interested in the contents of this epistle was manifest from the beginning, not only from the expression of his face, but from the frequent "wa'al, wa'als" which were elicited as he went on; but interest grew into excitement as he neared the close, and culminated as he read the last few lines.
"Scat my CATS!" he cried, and, grabbing his hat and the letter, he bolted out of the back door in the direction of the house, leaving the rest of his correspondence to be digested--any time.
EPILOGUE.
I might, in conclusion, tell how John's further life in Homeville was of comparatively short duration; how David died of injuries received in a runaway accident; how John found himself the sole executor of his late partner's estate, and, save for a life provision for Mrs.Bixbee, the only legatee, and rich enough (if indeed with his own and his wife's money he had not been so before) to live wherever he pleased.

But as heretofore I have confined myself strictly to facts, I am, to be consistent, constrained to abide by them now.

Indeed, I am too conscientious to do otherwise, notwithstanding the temptation to make what might be a more artistic ending to my story.

David is not only living, but appears almost no older than when we first knew him, and is still just as likely to "git goin'" on occasion.

Even "old Jinny" is still with us, though her master does most of his "joggin' 'round" behind a younger horse.