I will
go and tell her the strange revelations that have come from
your lips."
Vance proceeded to the place where he had left the girl, and
by degrees prepared her for the wonderful announcement. The
girl listened to the story calmly, and when the detective had
finished his tale, she said:
"I am not surprised; I had hoped some day to know both father
and mother, but I am happy in having found a father."
"Will you go to your father?"
"I will."
"When?"
"Now, at once."
The two entered a carriage, and half an hour later father and
daughter were clasped in each other's arms.
The father had a little surprise for Vance. He had removed
certain little disguise appliances, and when father and
daughter stood side by side, a most striking resemblance was
apparent.
We will not attempt to describe all that passed between father
and child, but the facts of their relationship were fully
established, and the mystery of the box containing the
supposed jewels was explained.
The convict who had committed the child to Mrs. Pearce had
given her the box, and had represented that it was filled with
costly jewels; but his statement was a lie, and the old lady's
imagination had aided her in swelling the value of the
contents of the box.
Mr. Selton proved to be a very wealthy man, living in a
Western city, and Renie was taken to her grand home.
Meantime, Vance remained in New York to appear as a witness
against the band of conspirators, and the result of his labors
was the breaking up of one of the best organized smuggling
schemes that was ever attempted in America.
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