"I know that it was changed in the town by your friend; and I know that you and he went to buy it back, and paid far more than it was worth for it, and——"
"And having got it back, there the thing ends," laughed Horace; but the man laughed also.
"Oh, yes, you got it back; but not before I had photographed it! I have the negative here, a beautiful negative that will enlarge."
Elgert regarded him in silent fury.
"Well," he said, altering his tone, "what do you want for it? I suppose you are trying to make money?"
"My book—the one you stole. If it is just as it was when I had it, you shall have this; if it is torn or damaged, then I take this to the police."
"You are smarter than I thought," answered Elgert blandly; but oh, in his heart, how he determined that in some way he would make this man suffer! "Well, here is the book. You can see it is not harmed."
The man snatched the book which the boy took from his pocket, and ran to the door to get all the light he could, as he eagerly glanced inside.
"It is all right," he said. "Here is the negative." And he handed it to Elgert. "And now you go!"—this to the book. "You have caused me trouble enough. Go where no one can get at you!" And, in a fit of rage, he threw it into the river; and then he turned back to the boy.