AsTom，quakingaswithapalsy，passedoutatthegate，threewomencameflyingfromthehouseontheoppositesideofthelane。
Theyrushedbyhimandinatthegate，askinghimwhatthetroublewasthere，butnotwaitingforananswer。
Tomsaidtohimself，"Thoseoldmaidswaitedtodress——theydidthesamethingthenightStevens’shouseburneddownnextdoor。"
Inafewminuteshewasinthehauntedhouse。Helightedacandleandtookoffhisgirl—clothes。Therewasbloodonhimalldownhisleftside，andhisrighthandwasredwiththestainsoftheblood—soakednoteswhichhehascrushedinit;butotherwisehewasfreefromthissortofevidence。Hecleansedhishandonthestraw，andcleanedmostofthesmutfromhisface。Thenheburnedthemaleandfemaleattiretoashes，scatteredtheashes，andputonadisguiseproperforatramp。Heblewouthislight，wentbelow，andwassoonloafingdowntheriverroadwiththeintenttoborrowanduseoneofRoxy’sdevices。Hefoundacanoeandpaddleddowndownstream，settingthecanoeadriftasdawnapproached，andmakinghiswaybylandtothenextvillage，wherehekeptoutofsighttillatransientsteamercamealong，andthentookdeckpassageforSt。Louis。HewasillateaseDawson’sLandingwasbehindhim;thenhesaidtohimself，"Allthedetectivesonearthcouldn’ttracemenow;there’snotavestigeofaclueleftintheworld;thathomicidewilltakeitsplacewiththepermanentmysteries，andpeoplewon’tgetdonetryingtoguessoutthesecretofitforfiftyyears。"
InSt。Louis，nextmorning，hereadthisbrieftelegraminthepapers——datedatDawson’sLanding：
JudgeDriscoll，anoldandrespectedcitizen，wasassassinatedhereaboutmidnightbyaprofligateItaliannoblemanorabarberonaccountofaquarrelgrowingoutoftherecentelection。
Theassassinwillprobablybelynched。
"Oneofthetwins！"soliloquizedTom。"Howlucky！
Itistheknifethathasdonehimthisgrace。Weneverknowwhenfortuneistryingtofavorus。IactuallycursedPudd’nheadWilsoninmyheartforputtingitoutofmypowertosellthatknife。
Itakeitbacknow。"
Tomwasnowrichandindependent。Hearrangedwiththeplanter，andmailedtoWilsonthenewbillofsalewhichsoldRoxanatoherself;thenhetelegraphedhisAuntPratt：
Haveseentheawfulnewsinthepapersandamalmostprostratedwithgrief。Shallstartbypackettoday。
TrytobearuptillIcome。
WhenWilsonreachedthehouseofmourningandhadgatheredsuchdetailsasMrs。Prattandtherestofthecrowdcouldtellhim，hetookcommandasmayor，andgaveordersthatnothingshouldbetouched，buteverythingleftasitwasuntilJusticeRobinsonshouldarriveandtakethepropermeasuresascorner。
Heclearedeverybodyoutoftheroombutthetwinsandhimself。
Thesheriffsoonarrivedandtookthetwinsawaytojail。
Wilsontoldthemtokeepheart，andpromisedtodoitbestintheirdefensewhenthecaseshouldcometotrial。JusticeRobinsoncamepresently，andwithhimConstableBlake。Theyexaminedtheroomthoroughly。Theyfoundtheknifeandthesheath。
Wilsonnoticedthattherewerefingerprintsontheknife’shandle。
Thatpleasedhim，forthetwinshadrequiredtheearliestcomerstomakeascrutinyoftheirhandsandclothes，andneitherthesepeoplenorWilsonhimselfhadfoundanybloodstainsuponthem。
Couldtherebeapossibilitythatthetwinshadspokenthetruthwhentheyhadsaidtheyfoundthemandeadwhentheyranintothehouseinanswertothecryforhelp？Hethoughtofthatmysteriousgirlatonce。Butthiswasnotthesortofworkforagirltobeengagedin。Nomatter;TomDriscoll’sroommustbeexamined。
Afterthecoroner’sjuryhadviewedthebodyanditssurroundings，Wilsonsuggestedasearchupstairs，andhewentalong。
ThejuryforcedanentrancetoTom’sroom，butfoundnothing，ofcourse。
Thecoroner’sjuryfoundthatthehomicidewascommittedbyLuigi，andthatAngelowasaccessorytoit。
Thetownwasbitteragainsthemisfortunates，andforthefirstfewdaysafterthemurdertheywereinconstantdangerofbeinglynched。ThegrandjurypresentlyindictedLuigiformurderinthefirstdegree，andAngeloasaccessorybeforethefact。
Thetwinsweretransferredfromthecityjailtothecountyprisontoawaittrial。
Wilsonexaminedthefingermarksontheknifehandleandsaidtohimself，"Neitherofthetwinsmadethosemarks。"
Thenmanifestlytherewasanotherpersonconcerned，eitherinhisowninterestorashiredassassin。"
Butwhocoulditbe？That，hemusttrytofindout。
Thesafewasnotopened，thecashboxwasclosed，andhadthreethousanddollarsinit。Thenrobberywasnotthemotive，andrevengewas。WherehadthemurderedmananenemyexceptLuigi？
Therewasbutthatonepersonintheworldwithadeepgrudgeagainsthim。
Themysteriousgirl！ThegirlwasagreattrialtoWilson。
Ifthemotivehadbeenrobbery，thegirlmightanswer;buttherewasn’tanygirlthatwouldwanttotakethisoldman’slifeforrevenge。
Hehadnoquarrelswithgirls;hewasagentleman。
Wilsonhadperfecttracingsofthefingermarksoftheknifehandle;
andamonghisglassrecordshehadagreatarrayoffingerprintsofwomenandgirls，collectedduringthelastfifteenoreighteenyears，buthescannedtheminvain，theysuccessfullywithstoodeverytest;amongthemwerenoduplicatesoftheprintsontheknife。
ThepresenceoftheknifeonthestageofthemurderwasaworryingcircumstanceforWilson。AweekpreviouslyhehadasgoodasadmittedtohimselfthathebelievedLuigihadpossessedsuchaknife，andthathestillpossesseditnotwithstandinghispretensethatithadbeenstolen。Andnowherewastheknife，andwithitthetwins。Halfthetownhadsaidthetwinswerehumbuggingwhentheclaimedtheyhadlosttheirknife，andnowthesepeoplewerejoyful，andsaid，"Itoldyouso！"
Iftheirfingerprintshadbeenonthehandle——butuselesstobotheranyfurtheraboutthat;thefingerprintsonthehandlewereNOTtheirs——thatheknewperfectly。
WilsonrefusedtosuspectTom;forfirst，Tomcouldn’tmurderanybody——hehadn’tcharacterenough;secondly，ifhecouldmurderapersonhewouldn’tselecthisdotingbenefactorandnearestrelative;thirdly，self—interestwasintheway;
forwhiletheunclelived，Tomwassureofafreesupportandachancetogetthedestroyedwillrevivedagain，butwiththeunclegone，thatchancewasgonetoo。Itwastruethewillhadreallybeenrevived，aswasnowdiscovered，butTomcouldnothavebeenawareofit，orhewouldhavespokenofit，inhisnativetalky，unsecretiveway。Finally，TomwasinSt。Louiswhenthemurderwasdone，andgotthenewsoutofthemorningjournals，aswasshownbyhistelegramtohisaunt。Thesespeculationswereumemphasizedsensationsratherthanarticulatedthoughts，forWilsonwouldhavelaughedattheideaofseriouslyconnectingTomwiththemurder。
Wilsonregardedthecaseofthetwinsasdesperate——infact，abouthopeless。Forhearguedthatifaconfederatewasnotfound，anenlightenedMissourijurywouldhangthem;sure;
ifaconfederatewasfound，thatwouldnotimprovethematter，butsimplyfurnishonemorepersonforthesherifftohang。
Nothingcouldsavethetwinsbutthediscoveryofapersonwhodidthemurderonhissolepersonalaccount——anundertakingwhichhadalltheaspectoftheimpossible。Still，thepersonwhomadethefingerprintsmustbesought。ThetwinsmighthavenocaseWITHthem，buttheycertainlywouldhavenonewithouthim。
SoWilsonmoonedaround，thinking，thinking，guessing，guessing，dayandnight，andarrivingnowhere。Wheneverheranacrossagirlorawomanhewasnotacquaintedwith，hegotherfingerprints，ononepretextoranother;andtheyalwayscosthimasighwhenhegothome，fortheynevertalliedwiththefingermarksontheknifehandle。
Astothemysteriousgirl，Tomsworeheknewnosuchgirl，anddidnotremembereverseeingagirlwearingadressliketheonedescribedbyWilson。Headmittedthathedidnotalwayslockhisroom，andthatsometimestheservantsforgottolockthehousedoors;still，inhisopinionthegirlmusthavemadebutfewvisitsorshewouldhavebeendiscovered。WhenWilsontriedtoconnectherwiththestealingraid，andthoughtshemighthavebeentheoldwoman’confederate，ifnottheverythiefdisguisedasanoldwoman，Tomseemedstuck，andalsomuchinterested，andsaidhewouldkeepasharpeyeoutforthispersonorpersons，althoughhewasafraidthatsheortheywouldbetoosmarttoventureagainintoatownwhereeverybodywouldnowbeonthewatchforagoodwhiletocome。
EverybodywaspityingTom，helookedsoquietandsorrowful，andseemedtofeelhisgreatlosssodeeply。Hewasplayingapart，butitwasnotallapart。Thepictureofhisallegeduncle，ashehadlastseenhim，wasbeforehiminthedarkprettyfrequently，whenhewasaway，andcalledagaininhisdreams，whenhewasasleep。Hewouldn’tgointotheroomwherethetragedyhadhappened。ThischarmedthedotingMrs。Pratt，whorealizednow，"asshehadneverdonebefore，"shesaid，whatasensitiveanddelicatenatureherdarlinghad，andhowheadoredhispooruncle。
CHAPTER20
TheMurdererChucklesEventheclearestandmostperfectcircumstantialevidenceislikelytobeatfault，afterall，andthereforeoughttobereceivedwithgreatcaution。Takethecaseofanypencil，sharpenedbyanywoman;ifyouhavewitnesses，youwillfindshediditwithaknife;butifyoutakesimplytheaspectofthepencil，youwillsayshediditwithherteeth。
——Pudd’nheadWilson’sCalendarTheweeksdraggedalong，nofriendvisitingthejailedtwinsbuttheircounselandAuntPatsyCooper，andthedayoftrialcameatlast——theheaviestdayinWilson’slife;forwithallhistirelessdiligencehehaddiscoverednosignortraceofthemissingconfederate。"Confederate"wasthetermhehadlongagoprivatelyacceptedforthatperson——notasbeingunquestionablytherightterm，butasbeingtheleastpossiblytherightone，thoughhewasneverabletounderstandwhythetwinsdidnotvanishandescape，astheconfederatehaddone，insteadofremainingbythemurderedmanandgettingcaughtthere。
Thecourthousewascrowded，ofcourse，andwouldremainsotothefinish，fornotonlyinthetownitself，butinthecountryformilesaround，thetrialwastheonetopicofconversationamongthepeople。Mrs。Pratt，indeepmourning，andTomwithaweedonhishat，hadseatsnearPembrokeHoward，thepublicprosecutor，andbackofthemsatagreatarrayoffriendsofthefamily。Thetwinshadbutonefriendpresenttokeeptheircounselincountenance，theirpooroldsorrowinglandlady。
ShesatnearWilson，andlookedherfriendliest。Inthe"niggercorner"satChambers;alsoRoxy，withgoodclotheson，andherbillofsaleinherpocket。Itwashermostpreciouspossession，andsheneverpartedwithit，dayornight。Tomhadallowedherthirty—fivedollarsamontheversincehecameintohisproperty，andhadsaidtheheandsheoughttobegratefultothetwinsformakingthemrich;buthadrousedsuchatemperinherbythisspeechthathedidnotrepeattheargumentafterward。Shesaidtheoldjudgehadtreatedherchildathousandtimesbetterthanhedeserved，andhadneverdoneheranunkindnessinhislife;
soshehatedtheseoutlandishdevilsforkillinghim，andshouldn’teversleepsatisfiedtillshesawthemhangedforit。
Shewasheretowatchthetrialnow，andwasgoingtoliftupjustone"hooraw"overitifthecountyjudgeputherinjailayearforit。
Shegaveherturbanedheadatossandsaid，"Whendatverdic’comes，I’sgwinetolif’datROOF，now，ITELLyou。"
PembrokeHowardbrieflysketchedthestate’scase。
Hesaidhewouldshowbyachainofcircumstantialevidencewithoutbreakorfaultinitanywhere，thattheprincipalprisoneratthebarcommittedthemurder;thatthemotivewaspartlyrevenge，andpartlyadesiretotakehisownlifeoutofjeopardy，andthathisbrother，byhispresence，wasaconsentingaccessorytothecrime;
acrimewhichwasthebasestknowntothecalendarofhumanmisdeeds——assassination;thatitwasconceivedbytheblackestofheartsandconsummatedbythecowardliestofhands;
acrimewhichhadbrokenalovingsister’sheart，blightedthehappinessofayoungnephewwhowasasdearasason，broughtinconsolablegrieftomanyfriends，andsorrowandlosstothewholecommunity。Theutmostpenaltyoftheoutragedlawwouldbeexacted，andupontheaccused，nowpresentatthebar，thatpenaltywouldunquestionablybeexecuted。Hewouldreservefurtherremarkuntilhisclosingspeech。
Hewasstronglymoved，andsoalsowasthewholehouse;
Mrs。Prattandseveralotherwomenwereweepingwhenhesatdown，andmanyaneyethatwasfullofhatewasrivetedupontheunhappyprisoners。
Witnessafterwitnesswascalledbythestate，andquestionedatlength;butthecrossquestioningwasbrief。
Wilsonknewtheycouldfurnishnothingvaluableforhisside。
PeopleweresorryforPudd’nheadWilson;hisbuddingcareerwouldgethurtbythistrial。
SeveralwitnessessworetheyheardJudgeDriscollsayinhispublicspeechthatthetwinswouldbeabletofindtheirlostknifeagainwhentheyneededittoassassinatesomebodywith。
Thiswasnotnews，butnowitwasseentohavebeensorrowfullyprophetic，andaprofoundsensationquiveredthroughthehushedcourtroomwhenthosedismalwordswererepeated。
Thepublicprosecutorroseandsaidthatitwaswithinhisknowledge，throughaconversationheldwithJudgeDriscollonthelastdayofhislife，thatcounselforthedefensehadbroughthimachallengefromthepersonchargedatthebarwithmurder;
thathehadrefusedtofightwithaconfessedassassin——
"thatis，onthefieldofhonor，"buthadaddedsignificantly，thatwouldwouldbereadyforhimelsewhere。PresumablythepersonherechargedwithmurderwaswarnedthathemustkillorbekilledthefirsttimeheshouldmeetJudgeDriscoll。Ifcounselforthedefensechosetoletthestatementstandso，hewouldnotcallhimtothewitnessstand。Mr。Wilsonsaidhewouldoffernodenial。
[Murmursinthehouse："ItisgettingworseandworseforWilson’scase。"]
Mrs。Pratttestifiedthatsheheardnooutcry，anddidnotknowwhatwokeherup，unlessitwasthesoundofrapidfootstepsapproachingthefrontdoor。Shejumpedupandranoutinthehalljustasshewas，andheardthefootstepsflyingupthefrontstepsandthenfollowingbehindherassherantothesittingroom。
Thereshefoundtheaccusedstandingoverhermurderedbrother。
[Hereshebrokedownandsobbed。Sensationinthecourt。]
Resuming，shesaidthepersonsenteredbehindherwereMr。RogersandMr。Buckstone。
Cross—examinedbyWilson，shesaidthetwinsproclaimedtheirinnocence;declaredthattheyhadbeentakingawalk，andhadhurriedtothehouseinresponsetoacryforhelpwhichwassoloudandstrongthattheyhadhearditataconsiderabledistance;thattheybeggedherandthegentlemenjustmentionedtoexaminetheirhandsandclothes——whichwasdone，andnobloodstainsfound。
ConfirmatoryevidencefollowedfromRogersandBuckstone。
Thefindingoftheknifewasverified，theadvertisementminutelydescribingitandofferingarewardforitwasputinevidence，anditsexactcorrespondencewiththatdescriptionproved。
Thenfollowedafewminordetails，andthecaseforthestatewasclosed。
Wilsonsaidthathehadthreewitnesses，theMissesClarkson，whowouldtestifythattheymetaveiledyoungwomanleavingJudgeDriscoll’spremisesbythebackgateafewminutesafterthecriesforhelpwereheard，andthattheirevidence，takenwithcertaincircumstantialevidencewhichhewouldcalltothecourt’sattentionto，wouldinhisopinionconvincethecourtthattherewasstillonepersonconcernedinthiscrimewhohadnotyetbeenfound，andalsothatastayofproceedingsoughttobegranted，injusticetohisclients，untilthatpersonshouldbediscovered。Asitwaslate，hewouldaskleavetodefertheexaminationofhisthreewitnessesuntilthenextmorning。
Thecrowdpouredoutoftheplaceandwentflockingawayinexcitedgroupsandcouples，takingtheeventsofthesessionoverwithvivacityandconsuminginterest，andeverybodyseemedtohavehadasatisfactoryandenjoyabledayexcepttheaccused，theircounsel，andtheiroldladyfriend。Therewasnocheeramongthese，andnosubstantialhope。
InpartingwiththetwinsAuntPatsydidattemptagood—nightwithagaypretenseofhopeandcheerinit，butbrokedownwithoutfinishing。
AbsolutelysecureasTomconsideredhimselftobe，theopeningsolemnitiesofthetrialhadneverthelessoppressedhimwithavagueuneasiness，hisbeinganaturesensitivetoeventhesmallestalarms;butfromthemomentthatthepovertyandweaknessofWilson’scaselayexposedtothecourt，hewascomfortableoncemore，evenjubilant。HeleftthecourtroomsarcasticallysorryforWilson。"TheClarksonsmetanunknownwomaninthebacklane，"hesaidtohimself，"THATishiscase！
I’llgivehimacenturytofindherin——acoupleofthemifhelikes。
Awomanwhodoesn’texistanylonger，andtheclothesthatgaveherhersexburntupandtheashesthrownaway——
oh，certainly，he’llfindHEReasyenough！"Thisreflectionsethimtoadmiring，forthehundredthtime，theshrewdingenuitiesbywhichhehadinsuredhimselfagainstdetection——more，againstevensuspicion。
"Nearlyalwaysincaseslikethisthereissomelittledetailorotheroverlooked，someweelittletrackortraceleftbehind，anddetectionfollows;butherethere’snoteventhefaintestsuggestionofatraceleft。Nomorethanabirdleaveswhenitfliesthroughtheair——yes，throughthenight，youmaysay。
Themanthatcantrackabirdthroughtheairinthedarkandfindthatbirdisthemantotrackmeoutandfindthejudge’sassassin——nootherneedapply。AndthatisthejobthathasbeenlaidoutforpoorPudd’nheadWilson，ofallpeopleintheworld！
Lord，itwillbepatheticallyfunnytoseehimgrubbingandgropingafterthatwomanthatdon’texist，andtherightpersonsittingunderhisverynoseallthetime！"
Themorehethoughtthesituationover，themorethehumorofitstruckhim。Finallyhesaid，"I’llneverlethimhearthelastofthatwoman。EverytimeIcatchhimincompany，tohisdyingday，I’llaskhimintheguilelessaffectionatewaythatusedtogravelhimsowhenIinquiredhowhisunbornlawbusinesswascomingalong，’Gotonhertrackyet——hey，Pudd’nhead？’"Hewantedtolaugh，butthatwouldnothaveanswered;therewerepeopleabout，andhewasmourningforhisuncle。HemadeuphismindthatitwouldbegoodentertainmenttolookinonWilsonthatnightandwatchhimworryoverhisbarrenlawcaseandgoadhimwithanexasperatingwordortwoofsympathyandcommiserationnowandthen。
Wilsonwantednosupper，hehadnoappetite。Hegotoutallthefingerprintsofgirlsandwomeninhiscollectionofrecordsandporedgloomilyoverthemanhourormore，tryingtoconvincehimselfthatthattroublesomegirl’smarksweretheresomewhereandhadbeenoverlooked。Butitwasnotso。Hedrewbackhischair，claspedhishandsoverhishead，andgavehimselfuptodullandaridmusings。
TomDriscolldroppedin，anhourafterdark，andsaidwithapleasantlaughashetookaseat：
"Hello，we’vegonebacktotheamusementsofourdaysofneglectandobscurityforconsolation，havewe？"andhetookuponeoftheglassstripsandhelditagainstthelighttoinspectit。
"Come，cheerup，oldman;there’snouseinlosingyourgripandgoingbacktothischild’splaymerelybecausethisbigsunspotisdriftingacrossyourshinynewdisk。It’llpass，andyou’llbeallrightagain"——andhelaidtheglassdown。
"Didyouthinkyoucouldwinalways？"
"Oh，no，"saidWilson，withasigh，"Ididn’texpectthat，butIcan’tbelieveLuigikilledyouruncle，andIfeelverysorryforhim。Itmakesmeblue。AndyouwouldfeelasIdo，Tom，ifyouwerenotprejudicedagainstthoseyoungfellows。"
"Idon’tknowaboutthat，"andTom’scountenancedarkened，forhismemoryrevertedtohiskicking。"Iowethemnogoodwill，consideringthebrunetone’streatmentofmethatnight。
Prejudiceornoprejudice，Pudd’nhead，Idon’tlikethem，andwhentheygettheirdesertsyou’renotgoingtofindmesittingonthemourner’sbench。"
Hetookupanotherstripofglass，andexclaimed：
"Why，here’soldRoxy’slabel！Areyougoingtoornamenttheroyalpalaceswithniggerpawmarks，too？Bythedatehere，Iwassevenmonthsoldwhenthiswasdone，andshewasnursingmeandherlittleniggercub。There’salinestraightacrossherthumbprint。
Howcomesthat？"andTomheldoutthepieceofglasstoWilson。
"Thatiscommon，"saidtheboredman，wearily。
"Scarofacutorascratch，usually"——andhetookthestripofglassindifferently，andraisedittowardthelamp。
Allthebloodsanksuddenlyoutofhisface;hishandquaked，andhegazedatthepolishedsurfacebeforehimwiththeglassystareofacorpse。
"Greatheavens，what’sthematterwithyou，Wilson？
Areyougoingtofaint？"
Tomsprangforaglassofwaterandofferedit，butWilsonshrankshudderingfromhimandsaid：
"No，no！——takeitaway！"Hisbreastwasrisingandfalling，andhemovedhisheadaboutinadullandwanderingway，likeapersonwhohadbeenstunned。Presentlyhesaid，"IshallfeelbetterwhenIgettobed;Ihavebeenoverwroughttoday;
yes，andoverworkedformanydays。"
"ThenI’llleaveyouandletyougettoyourrest。
Goodnight，oldman。"ButasTomwentouthecouldn’tdenyhimselfasmallpartinggibe："Don’ttakeitsohard;abodycan’twineverytime;you’llhangsomebodyyet。"
Wilsonmutteredtohimself，"ItisnolietosayIamsorryIhavetobeginwithyou，miserabledogthoughyouare！"
Hebracedhimselfupwithaglassofcoldwhisky，andwenttoworkagain。HedidnotcomparethenewfingermarksunintentionallyleftbyTomafewminutesbeforeonRoxy’sglasswiththetracingsofthemarksleftontheknifehandle，therebeingnoneedforthat（forhistrainedeye），butbusiedhimselfwithanothermatter，mutteringfromtimetotime，"IdiotthatIwas！——
NothingbutaGIRLwoulddome——amaningirl’sclothesneveroccurredtome。"First，hehuntedouttheplatecontainingthefingerprintsmadebyTomwhenhewastwelveyearsold，andlaiditbyitself;thenhebroughtforththemarksmadebyTom’sbabyfingerswhenhewasasucklingofsevenmonths，andplacedthesetwoplateswiththeonecontainingthissubject’snewly（andunconsciously）maderecord"Nowtheseriesiscomplete，"hesaidwithsatisfaction，andsatdowntoinspectthesethingsandenjoythem。
Buthisenjoymentwasbrief。Hestaredaconsiderabletimeatthethreestrips，andseemedstupefiedwithastonishment。
Atlastheputthemdownandsaid，"Ican’tmakeitoutatall——
hangit，thebaby’sdon’ttallywiththeothers！"
Hewalkedthefloorforhalfanhourpuzzlingoverhisenigma，thenhehuntedouttheotherglassplates。
Hesatdownandpuzzledoverthesethingsagoodwhile，butkeptmuttering，"It’snouse;Ican’tunderstandit。
Theydon’ttallyright，andyetI’llswearthenamesanddatesareright，andsoofcoursetheyOUGHTtotally。Ineverlabeledoneofthesethingcarelesslyinmylife。Thereisamostextraordinarymysteryhere。"
Hewastiredoutnow，andhisbrainswerebeginningtoclog。
Hesaidhewouldsleephimselffresh，andthenseewhathecoulddowiththisriddle。Hesleptthroughatroubledandunrestfulhour，thenunconsciousnessbegantoshredaway，andpresentlyherosedrowsilytoasittingposture。"Nowwhatwasthatdream？"
hesaid，tryingtorecallit。"Whatwasthatdream？Itseemedtounravelthatpuz——"
Helandedinthemiddleoftheflooratabound，withoutfinishingthesentence，andranandturneduphislightandseizedhis"records。"Hetookasingleswiftglanceatthemandcriedout：
"It’sso！Heavens，whatarevelation！Andfortwenty—threeyearsnomanhaseversuspectedit！"
CHAPTER21
DoomHeisuselessontopoftheground;heoughttobeunderit，inspiringthecabbages。
——Pudd’nheadWilson’sCalendarAPRIL1。Thisisthedayuponwhichweareremindedofwhatweareontheotherthreehundredandsixty—four。
——Pudd’nheadWilson’sCalendarWilsonputonenoughclothesforbusinesspurposesandwenttoworkunderahighpressureofsteam。Hewasawakeallover。
Allsenseofwearinesshadbeensweptawaybytheinvigoratingrefreshmentofthegreatandhopefuldiscoverywhichhehadmade。
Hemadefineandaccuratereproductionsofanumberofhis"records，"andthenenlargedthemonascaleoftentoonewithhispantograph。Hedidthesepantographenlargementsonsheetsofwhitecardboard，andmadeeachindividuallineofthebewilderingmazeofwhorlsorcurvesorloopswhichconsistedofthe"pattern"ofa"record"standoutboldandblackbyreinforcingitwithink。Totheuntrainedeyethecollectionofdelicateoriginalsmadebythehumanfingerontheglassplateslookedaboutalike;butwhenenlargedtentimestheyresembledthemarkingsofablockofwoodthathasbeensawedacrossthegrain，andthedullesteyecoulddetectataglance，andatadistanceofmanyfeet，thatnotwoofthepatternswerealike。
WhenWilsonhadatlastfinishedhistediousanddifficultwork，hearrangedhisresultsaccordingtoaplaninwhichaprogressiveorderandsequencewasaprincipalfeature;thenheaddedtothebatchseveralpantographenlargementswhichhehadmadefromtimetotimeinbygoneyears。
Thenightwasspentandthedaywelladvancednow。Bythetimehehadsnatchedatrifleofbreakfast，itwasnineo’clock，andthecourtwasreadytobeginitssitting。Hewasinhisplacetwelveminuteslaterwithhis"records。"
TomDriscollcaughtaslightglimpseoftherecords，andnudgedhisnearestfriendandsaid，withawink，"Pudd’nhead’sgotarareeyetobusiness——thinksthataslongashecan’twinhiscaseit’satleastanoblegoodchancetoadvertisehiswindowpalacedecorationswithoutanyexpense。"Wilsonwasinformedthathiswitnesseshadbeendelayed，butwouldarrivepresently;butheroseandsaidheshouldprobablynothaveoccasiontomakeuseoftheirtestimony。[Anamusedmurmurranthroughtheroom："It’sacleanbackdown！hegivesupwithouthittingalick！"]Wilsoncontinued："Ihaveothertestimony——
andbetter。[Thiscompelledinterest，andevokedmurmursofsurprisethathadadetectableingredientofdisappointmentinthem。]
IfIseemtobespringingthisevidenceuponthecourt，Iofferasmyjustificationforthis，thatIdidnotdiscoveritsexistenceuntillatelastnight，andhavebeenengagedinexaminingandclassifyingiteversince，untilhalfanhourago。
Ishallofferitpresently;butfirstIwithtosayafewpreliminarywords。
"Mayitpleasethecourt，theclaimgiventhefrontplace，theclaimmostpersistentlyurged，theclaimmoststrenuouslyandImayevensayaggressivelyanddefiantlyinsisteduponbytheprosecutionisthis——thatthepersonwhosehandleftthebloodstainedfingerprintsuponthehandleoftheIndianknifeisthepersonwhocommittedthemurder。"Wilsonpaused，duringseveralmoments，togiveimpressivenesstowhathewasabouttosay，andthenaddedtranquilly，"WEGRANTTHATCLAIM。"
Itwasanelectricalsurprise。Noonewaspreparedforsuchanadmission。Abuzzofastonishmentroseonallsides，andpeoplewereheardtointimatethattheoverworkedlawyerhadlosthismind。Eventheveteranjudge，accustomedashewastolegalambushesandmaskedbatteriesincriminalprocedure，wasnotsurethathisearswerenotdeceivinghim，andaskedcounselwhatitwashehadsaid。Howard’simpassivefacebetrayednosign，buthisattitudeandbearinglostsomethingoftheircarelessconfidenceforamoment。Wilsonresumed：
"Wenotonlygrantthatclaim，butwewelcomeitandstronglyendorseit。Leavingthatmatterforthepresent，wewillnowproceedtoconsiderotherpointsinthecasewhichweproposetoestablishbyevidence，andshallincludethatoneinthechaininitsproperplace。"
Hehadmadeuphismindtotryafewhardyguesses，inmappingouthistheoryoftheoriginandmotiveofthemurder——
guessesdesignedtofillupgapsinit——guesseswhichcouldhelpiftheyhit，andwouldprobablydonoharmiftheydidn’t。
"Tomymind，certaincircumstancesofthecasebeforethecourtseemtosuggestamotiveforthehomicidequitedifferentfromtheoneinsistedonbythestate。Itismyconvictionthatthemotivewasnotrevenge，butrobbery。Ithasbeenurgedthatthepresenceoftheaccusedbrothersinthatfatalroom，justafternotificationthatoneofthemmusttakethelifeofJudgeDriscollorlosehisownthemomentthepartiesshouldmeet，clearlysignifiesthatthenaturalofself—preservationmovedmyclientstogotheresecretlyandsaveCountLuigibydestroyinghisadversary。
"Thenwhydidtheystaythere，afterthedeedwasdone？
Mrs。Pratthadtime，althoughshedidnothearthecryforhelp，butwokeupsomemomentslater，toruntothatroom——andthereshefoundthesemenstandingandmakingnoefforttoescape。
Iftheywereguilty，theyoughttohavebeenrunningoutofthehouseatthesametimethatshewasrunningtothatroom。
Iftheyhadhadsuchastronginstincttowardself—preservationastomovethemtokillthatunarmedman，whathadbecomeofitnow，whenitshouldhavebeenmorealertthanever。Wouldanyofushaveremainedthere？Letusnotslanderourintelligencetothatdegree。
"Muchstresshasbeenlaiduponthefactthattheaccusedofferedaverylargerewardfortheknifewithwhichthismurderwasdone;thatnothiefcameforwardtoclaimthatextraordinaryreward;thatthelatterfactwasgoodcircumstantialevidencethattheclaimthattheknifehadbeenstolenwasavanityandafraud;thatthesedetailstakeninconnectionwiththememorableandapparentlypropheticspeechofthedeceasedconcerningthatknife，andthefinallydiscoveryofthatveryknifeinthefatalroomwherenolivingpersonwasfoundpresentwiththeslaughteredmanbuttheowneroftheknifeandhisbrother，formanindestructiblechainofevidencewhichfixedthecrimeuponthoseunfortunatestrangers。
"ButIshallpresentlyasktobesworn，andshalltestifythattherewasalargerewardofferedfortheTHIEF，also;
anditwasofferedsecretlyandnotadvertised;thatthisfactwasindiscreetlymentioned——oratleasttacitlyadmitted——inwhatwassupposedtobesafecircumstances，butmayNOThavebeen。
Thethiefmayhavebeenpresenthimself。[TomDriscollhadbeenlookingatthespeaker，butdroppedhiseyesatthispoint。]
Inthatcasehewouldretaintheknifeinhispossession，notdaringtoofferitforsale，orforpledgeinapawnshop。[Therewasanoddingofheadsamongtheaudiencebywayofadmissionthatthiswasnotabadstroke。]IshallprovetothesatisfactionofthejurythatthereWASapersoninJudgeDriscoll’sroomseveralminutesbeforetheaccusedenteredit。[Thisproducedastrongsensation;thelastdrowsyheadinthecourtroomrousedupnow，andmadepreparationtolisten。]Ifitshallseemnecessary，IwillprovebytheMissesClarksonthattheymetaveiledperson——
ostensiblyawoman——comingoutofthebackgateafewminutesafterthecryforhelpwasheard。Thispersonwasnotawoman，butamandressedinwoman’sclothes。"Anothersensation。
WilsonhadhiseyeonTomwhenhehazardedthisguess，toseewhateffectitwouldproduce。Hewassatisfiedwiththeresult，andsaidtohimself，"Itwasasuccess——he’shit！"
Theobjectofthatpersoninthathousewasrobbery，notmurder。Itistruethatthesafewasnotopen，buttherewasanordinarycashboxonthetable，withthreethousanddollarsinit。
Itiseasilysupposablethatthethiefwasconcealedinthehouse;thatheknewofthisbox，andofitsowner’shabitofcountingitscontentsandarranginghisaccountsatnight——ifhehadthathabit，whichIdonotassert，ofcourse——thathetriedtotaketheboxwhileitsownerslept，butmadeanoiseandwasseized，andhadtousetheknifetosavehimselffromcapture;
andthathefledwithouthisbootybecauseheheardhelpcoming。
"Ihavenowdonewithmytheory，andwillproceedtotheevidencesbywhichIproposetotrytoproveitssoundness。"
Wilsontookupseveralofhisstripsofglass。WhentheaudiencerecognizedthesefamiliarmementosofPudd’nhead’soldtimechildish"puttering"andfolly，thetenseandfunerealinterestvanishedoutoftheirfaces，andthehouseburstintovolleysofrelievingandrefreshinglaughter，andTomchirkedupandjoinedinthefunhimself;butWilsonwasapparentlynotdisturbed。
Hearrangedhisrecordsonthetablebeforehim，andsaid：
"IbegtheindulgenceofthecourtwhileImakeafewremarksinexplanationofsomeevidencewhichIamabouttointroduce，andwhichIshallpresentlyasktobeallowedtoverifyunderoathonthewitnessstand。Everyhumanbeingcarrieswithhimfromhiscradletohisgravecertainphysicalmarkswhichdonotchangetheircharacter，andbywhichhecanalwaysbeidentified——andthatwithoutshadeofdoubtorquestion。
Thesemarksarehissignature，hisphysiologicalautograph，sotospeak，andthisautographcannotbecounterfeited，norcanhedisguiseitorhideitaway，norcanitbecomeillegiblebythewearandmutationsoftime。
Thissignatureisnothisface——agecanchangethatbeyondrecognition;itisnothishair，forthatcanfallout;itisnothisheight，forduplicatesofthatexist;itisnothisform，forduplicatesofthatexistalso，whereasthissignatureiseachman’sveryown——thereisnoduplicateofitamongtheswarmingpopulationsoftheglobe！[Theaudiencewereinterestedoncemore。]
"ThisautographconsistsofthedelicatelinesorcorrugationswithwhichNaturemarkstheinsidesofthehandsandthesolesofthefeet。Ifyouwilllookattheballsofyourfingers——
youthathaveverysharpeyesight——youwillobservethatthesedaintycurvinglineslieclosetogether，likethosethatindicatethebordersofoceansinmaps，andthattheyformvariousclearlydefinedpatterns，suchasarches，circles，longcurves，whorls，etc。，andthatthesepattersdifferonthedifferentfingers。[Everymanintheroomhadhishanduptothelightnow，andhisheadcantedtooneside，andwasminutelyscrutinizingtheballsofhisfingers;therewerewhisperedejaculationsof"Why，it’sso——Inevernoticedthatbefore！"]
Thepatternsontherighthandarenotthesameasthoseontheleft。
[Ejaculationsof"Why，that’sso，too！"]Takenfingerforfinger，yourpatternsdifferfromyourneighbor’s。[Comparisonsweremadealloverthehouse——eventhejudgeandjurywereabsorbedinthiscuriouswork。]Thepatternsofatwin’srighthandarenotthesameasthoseonhisleft。Onetwin’spattersareneverthesameashisfellowtwin’spatters——thejurywillfindthatthepatternsuponthefingerballsofthetwins’handsfollowthisrule。[Anexaminationofthetwins’handswasbegunatonce。]
Youhaveoftenheardoftwinswhoweresoexactlyalikethatwhendressedaliketheirownparentscouldnottellthemapart。
Yettherewasneveratwinbornintothisworldthatdidnotcarryfrombirthtodeathasureidentifierinthismysteriousandmarvelousnatalautograph。Thatonceknowntoyou，hisfellowtwincouldneverpersonatehimanddeceiveyou。"
Wilsonstoppedandstoodsilent。Inattentiondiesaquickandsuredeathwhenaspeakerdoesthat。Thestillnessgiveswarningthatsomethingiscoming。Allpalmsandfingerballswentdownnow，allslouchingformsstraightened，allheadscameup，alleyeswerefasteneduponWilson’sface。Hewaitedyetone，two，threemoments，tolethispausecompleteandperfectitsspelluponthehouse;then，whenthroughtheprofoundhushhecouldhearthetickingoftheclockonthewall，heputouthishandandtooktheIndianknifebythebladeandhelditaloftwhereallcouldseethesinisterspotsuponitsivoryhandle;
thenhesaid，inalevelandpassionlessvoice：
"Uponthishaftstandstheassassin’snatalautograph，writteninthebloodofthathelplessandunoffendingoldmanwholovedyouandwhomyouallloved。Thereisbutonemaninthewholeearthwhosehandcanduplicatethatcrimsonsign"——
hepausedandraisedhiseyestothependulumswingingbackandforth——
"andpleaseGodwewillproducethatmaninthisroombeforetheclockstrikesnoon！"
Stunned，distraught，unconsciousofitsownmovement，thehousehalfrose，asifexpectingtoseethemurdererappearatthedoor，andabreezeofmutteredejaculationsswepttheplace。
"Orderinthecourt！——sitdown！"Thisfromthesheriff。Hewasobeyed，andquietreignedagain。WilsonstoleaglanceatTom，andsaidtohimself，"Heisflyingsignalsofdistressnow;evenpeoplewhodespisehimarepityinghim;theythinkthisisahardordealforayoungfellowwhohaslosthisbenefactorbysocruelastroke——andtheyareright。"Heresumedhisspeech：
"FormorethantwentyyearsIhaveamusedmycompulsoryleisurewithcollectingthesecuriousphysicalsignaturesinthistown。
AtmyhouseIhavehundredsuponhundredsofthem。
Eachandeveryoneislabeledwithnameanddate;notlabeledthenextdayoreventhenexthour，butintheveryminutethattheimpressionwastaken。WhenIgouponthewitnessstandIwillrepeatunderoaththethingswhichIamnowsaying。Ihavethefingerprintsofthecourt，thesheriff，andeverymemberofthejury。
Thereishardlyapersoninthisroom，whiteorblack，whosenatalsignatureIcannotproduce，andnotoneofthemcansodisguisehimselfthatIcannotpickhimoutfromamultitudeofhisfellowcreaturesandunerringlyidentifyhimbyhishands。
AndifheandIshouldlivetobeahundredIcouldstilldoit。
[Theinterestoftheaudiencewassteadilydeepeningnow。]
"IhavestudiedsomeofthesesignaturessomuchthatIknowthemaswellasthebankcashierknowstheautographofhisoldestcustomer。WhileIturnmybacknow，Ibegthatseveralpersonswillbesogoodastopasstheirfingersthroughtheirhair，andthenpressthemupononeofthepanesofthewindownearthejury，andthatamongthemtheaccusedmaysetTHEIR
fingermarks。Also，Ibegthattheseexperimenters，orothers，willsettheirfingersuponanotherpane，andaddagainthemarksoftheaccused，butnotplacingtheminthesameorderorrelationtotheothersignaturesasbefore——for，byonechanceinamillion，apersonmighthappenupontherightmarksbypureguesswork，ONCE，thereforeIwishtobetestedtwice。"
Heturnedhisback，andthetwopaneswerequicklycoveredwithdelicatelylinedovalspots，butvisibleonlytosuchpersonsascouldgetadarkbackgroundforthem——thefoliageofatree，outside，forinstance。Thenuponcall，Wilsonwenttothewindow，madehisexamination，andsaid：
"ThisisCountLuigi’srighthand;thisone，threesignaturesbelow，ishisleft。HereisCountAngelo’sright;
downhereishisleft。Howfortheotherpane：hereandhereareCountLuigi’s，hereandherearehisbrother’s。"Hefacedabout。
"AmIright？"
Adeafeningexplosionofapplausewastheanswer。
Thebenchsaid：
"Thiscertainlyapproachesthemiraculous！"
Wilsonturnedtothewindowagainandremarked，pointingwithhisfinger：
"ThisisthesignatureofMr。JusticeRobinson。[Applause。]
This，ofConstableBlake。[Applause。]ThisofJohnMason，juryman。
[Applause。]This，ofthesheriff。[Applause。]
Icannotnametheothers，butIhavethemallathome，namedanddated，andcouldidentifythemallbymyfingerprintrecords。"
Hemovedtohisplacethroughastormofapplause——whichthesheriffstopped，andalsomadethepeoplesitdown，fortheywereallstandingandstrugglingtosee，ofcourse。Court，jury，sheriff，andeverybodyhadbeentooabsorbedinobservingWilson’sperformancetoattendtotheaudienceearlier。
"Nowthen，"saidWilson，"Ihaveherethenatalautographsofthetwochildren——thrownuptotentimesthenaturalsizebythepantograph，sothatanyonewhocanseeatallcantellthemarkingsapartataglance。WewillcallthechildrenAandB。
HereareA’sfingermarks，takenattheageoffivemonths。
Heretheyareagaintakenatsevenmonths。[Tomstarted。]
Theyarealike，yousee。HereareB’satfivemonths，andalsoatsevenmonths。They，too，exactlycopyeachother，butthepatternsarequitedifferentfromA’s，youobserve。Ishallrefertotheseagainpresently，butwewillturnthemfacedownnow。
"Here，thrownuptensizes，arethenatalautographsofthetwopersonswhoareherebeforeyouaccusedofmurderingJudgeDriscoll。
Imadethesepantographcopieslastnight，andwillsoswearwhenIgouponthewitnessstand。Iaskthejurytocomparethemwiththefingermarksoftheaccuseduponthewindowpanes，andtellthecourtiftheyarethesame。"
Hepassedapowerfulmagnifyingglasstotheforeman。
Onejurymanafteranothertookthecardboardandtheglassandmadethecomparison。Thentheforemansaidtothejudge：
"Yourhonor，weareallagreedthattheyareidentical。"
Wilsonsaidtotheforeman：
"Pleaseturnthatcardboardfacedown，andtakethisone，andcompareitsearchingly，bythemagnifier，withthefatalsignatureupontheknifehandle，andreportyourfindingtothecourt。"
Againthejurymademinuteexaminations，andagainreported：
"Wefindthemtobeexactlyidentical，yourhonor。"
Wilsonturnedtowardthecounselfortheprosecution，andtherewasaclearlyrecognizablenoteofwarninginhisvoicewhenhesaid：
"Mayitpleasethecourt，thestatehasclaimed，strenuouslyandpersistently，thatthebloodstainedfingerprintsuponthatknifehandlewerelefttherebytheassassinofJudgeDriscoll。
Youhaveheardusgrantthatclaim，andwelcomeit。"Heturnedtothejury："Comparethefingerprintsoftheaccusedwiththefingerprintsleftbytheassassin——andreport。"
Thecomparisonbegan。Asitproceeded，allmovementandallsoundceased，andthedeepsilenceofanabsorbedandwaitingsuspensesettleduponthehouse;andwhenatlastthewordscame，"THEYDONOTEVENRESEMBLE，"athundercrashofapplausefollowedandthehousesprangtoitsfeet，butwasquicklyrepressedbyofficialforceandbroughttoorderagain。Tomwasalteringhispositioneveryfewminutesnow，butnoneofhischangesbroughtreposenoranysmalltrifleofcomfort。Whenthehouse’sattentionwasbecomefixedoncemore，Wilsonsaidgravely，indicatingthetwinswithagesture：
"Thesemenareinnocent——Ihavenofurtherconcernwiththem。
[Anotheroutbreakofapplausebegan，butwaspromptlychecked。]
Wewillnowproceedtofindtheguilty。[Tom’seyeswerestartingfromtheirsockets——yes，itwasacrueldayforthebereavedyouth，everybodythought。]WewillreturntotheinfantautographsofAandB。IwillaskthejurytotaketheselargepantographfacsimiliesofA’smarkedfivemonthsandsevenmonths。
Dotheytally？"
Theforemanresponded："Perfectly。"
"Nowexaminethispantograph，takenateightmonths，andalsomarkedA。Doesittallywiththeothertwo？"
Thesurprisedresponsewas：
"NO——THEYDIFFERWIDELY！"
"Youarequiteright。NowtakethesetwopantographsofB’sautograph，markedfivemonthsandsevenmonths。Dotheytallywitheachother？"
"Yes——perfectly。"
"TakethisthirdpantographmarkedB，eightmonths。
DoesittallywithB’sothertwo？"
"BYNOMEANS！"
"Doyouknowhowtoaccountforthosestrangediscrepancies？
Iwilltellyou。Forapurposeunknowntous，butprobablyaselfishone，somebodychangedthosechildreninthecradle。"
Thisproducedavastsensation，naturally;Roxanawasastonishedatthisadmirableguess，butnotdisturbedbyit。
Toguesstheexchangewasonething，toguesswhodiditquiteanother。
Pudd’nheadWilsoncoulddowonderfulthings，nodoubt，buthecouldn’tdoimpossibleones。Safe？Shewasperfectlysafe。
Shesmiledprivately。
"Betweentheagesofsevenmonthsandeightmonthsthosechildrenwerechangedinthecradle"——hemadeoneofthiseffect—
collectingpauses，andadded——"andthepersonwhodiditisinthishouse！"
Roxy’spulsesstoodstill！Thehousewasthrilledaswithanelectricshock，andthepeoplehalfroseasiftoseekaglimpseofthepersonwhohadmadethatexchange。Tomwasgrowinglimp;thelifeseemedoozingoutofhim。Wilsonresumed：
"AwasputintoB’scradleinthenursery;BwastransferredtothekitchenandbecameaNegroandaslave[Sensation——
confusionofangryejaculations]——butwithinaquarterofanhourhewillstandbeforeyouwhiteandfree！[Burstofapplause，checkedbytheofficers。]Fromsevenmonthsonwarduntilnow，Ahasstillbeenausurper，andinmyfingerrecordhebearsB’sname。
Hereishispantographattheageoftwelve。
Compareitwiththeassassin’ssignatureupontheknifehandle。
Dotheytally？"
Theforemananswered：
"TOTHEMINUTESTDETAIL！"
Wilsonsaid，solemnly：
"Themurdererofyourfriendandmine——YorkDriscollofthegeneroushandandthekindlyspirit——sitsinamongyou。
ValetdeChambre，Negroandslave——falselycalledThomasaBecketDriscoll——makeuponthewindowthefingerprintsthatwillhangyou！"
Tomturnedhisashenfaceimploringtowardthespeaker，madesomeimpotentmovementswithhiswhitelips，thenslidlimpandlifelesstothefloor。
Wilsonbroketheawedsilencewiththewords：
"Thereisnoneed。Hehasconfessed。"
Roxyflungherselfuponherknees，coveredherfacewithherhands，andoutthroughhersobsthewordsstruggled：
"DeLordhavemercyonme，po’misasblesinnerdatIis！"
Theclockstrucktwelve。
Thecourtrose;thenewprisoner，handcuffed，wasremoved。
CONCLUSION
Itisoftenthecasethatthemanwhocan’ttellaliethinksheisthebestjudgeofone。
——Pudd’nheadWilson’sCalendarOCTOBER12，THEDISCOVERY。ItwaswonderfultofindAmerica，butitwouldhavebeenmorewonderfultomissit。
——Pudd’nheadWilson’sCalendarThetownsatupallnighttodiscusstheamazingeventsofthedayandswapguessesastowhenTom’strialwouldbegin。
TroopaftertroopofcitizenscametoserenadeWilson，andrequireaspeech，andshoutthemselveshoarseovereverysentencethatfellfromhislips——forallhissentencesweregolden，now，allweremarvelous。Hislongfightagainsthardluckandprejudicewasended;hewasamademanforgood。
Andaseachoftheseroaringgangsofenthusiastsmarchedaway，someremorsefulmemberofitwasquitesuretoraisehisvoiceandsay：
"Andthisisthemanthelikesofushavecalledapudd’nheadformorethantwentyyears。Hehasresignedfromthatposition，friends。"
"Yes，butitisn’tvacant——we’reelected。"
Thetwinswereheroesofromance，now，andwithrehabilitatedreputations。ButtheywerewearyofWesternadventure，andstraightwayretiredtoEurope。
Roxy’sheartwasbroken。Theyoungfellowuponwhomshehadinflictedtwenty—threeyearsofslaverycontinuedthefalseheir’spensionofthirty—fivedollarsamonthtoher，butherhurtsweretoodeepformoneytoheal;thespiritinhereyewasquenched，hermartialbearingdepartedwithit，andthevoiceofherlaughterceasedintheland。Inherchurchanditsaffairsshefoundheronlysolace。
Therealheirsuddenlyfoundhimselfrichandfree，butinamostembarrassingsituation。Hecouldneitherreadnorwrite，andhisspeechwasthebasestdialectoftheNegroquarter。
Hisgait，hisattitudes，hisgestures，hisbearing，hislaugh——
allwerevulgaranduncouth;hismannerswerethemannersofaslave。
Moneyandfineclothescouldnotmendthesedefectsorcoverthemup;
theyonlymadethemmoreglaringandthemorepathetic。
Thepoorfellowcouldnotenduretheterrorsofthewhiteman’sparlor，andfeltathomeandatpeacenowherebutinthekitchen。
Thefamilypewwasamiserytohim，yethecouldnevermoreenterintothesolacingrefugeofthe"niggergallery"——thatwasclosedtohimforgoodandall。Butwecannotfollowhiscuriousfatefurther——
thatwouldbealongstory。
Thefalseheirmadeafullconfessionandwassentencedtoimprisonmentforlife。Butnowacomplicationcameup。
ThePercyDriscollestatewasinsuchacrippledshapewhenitsownerdiedthatitcouldpayonlysixtypercentofitsgreatindebtedness，andwassettledatthatrate。Butthecreditorscameforwardnow，andcomplainedthatinasmuchasthroughanerrorforwhichTHEYwereinnowaytoblamethefalseheirwasnotinventoriedatthetimewiththerestoftheproperty，greatwrongandlosshadtherebybeeninflicteduponthem。
Theyrightlyclaimedthat"Tom"waslawfullytheirpropertyandhadbeensoforeightyears;thattheyhadalreadylostsufficientlyinbeingdeprivedofhisservicesduringthatlongperiod，andoughtnottoberequiredtoaddanythingtothatloss;thatifhehadbeendelivereduptotheminthefirstplace，theywouldhavesoldhimandhecouldnothavemurderedJudgeDriscoll;thereforeitwasnotthathehadreallycommittedthemurder，theguiltlaywiththeerroneousinventory。Everybodysawthattherewasreasoninthis。Everybodygrantedthatif"Tom"werewhiteandfreeitwouldbeunquestionablyrighttopunishhim——itwouldbenolosstoanybody;buttoshutupavaluableslaveforlife——
thatwasquiteanothermatter。
AssoonastheGovernorunderstoodthecase，hepardonedTomatonce，andthecreditorssoldhimdowntheriver。
Author’sNotetoTHOSEEXTRAORDINARYTWINS
Amanwhoisnotbornwiththenovel—writinggifthasatroublesometimeofitwhenhetriestobuildanovel。
Iknowthisfromexperience。Hehasnoclearideaofhisstory;
infacthehasnostory。Hemerelyhassomepeopleinhismind，andanincidentortwo，alsoalocality，andhetrustshecanplungethosepeopleintothoseincidentswithinterestingresults。
Sohegoestowork。Towriteanovel？No——thatisathoughtwhichcomeslater;inthebeginningheisonlyproposingtotellalittletale，averylittletale，asix—pagetale。Butasitisatalewhichheisnotacquaintedwith，andcanonlyfindoutwhatitisbylisteningasitgoesalongtellingitself，itismorethanapttogoonandonandontillitspreadsitselfintoabook。
Iknowaboutthis，becauseithashappenedtomesomanytimes。
AndIhavenoticedanotherthing：thatastheshorttalegrowsintothelongtale，theoriginalintention（ormotif）
isapttogetabolishedandfinditselfsupersededbyaquitedifferentone。ItwassointhecaseofamagazinesketchwhichIoncestartedtowrite——afunnyandfantasticsketchaboutaprinceanapauper;itpresentlyassumedagravecastofitsownaccord，andinthatnewshapespreaditselfoutintoabook。
MuchthesamethinghappenedwithPUDD’NHEADWILSON。Ihadasufficientlyhardtimewiththattale，becauseitchangeditselffromafarcetoatragedywhileIwasgoingalongwithit——amostembarrassingcircumstance。Butwhatwasagreatdealworsewas，thatitwasnotonestory，buttwostoriestangledtogether;andtheyobstructedandinterruptedeachotherateveryturnandcreatednoendofconfusionandannoyance。Icouldnotofferthebookforpublication，forIwasafraiditwouldunseatthereader’sreason，Ididnotknowwhatwasthematterwithit，forIhadnotnoticed，asyet，thatitwastwostoriesinone。
Ittookmemonthstomakethatdiscovery。IcarriedthemanuscriptbackandforthacrosstheAtlantictwoorthreetimes，andreaditandstudiedoveritonshipboard;andatlastIsawwherethedifficultylay。Ihadnofurthertrouble。Ipulledoneofthestoriesoutbytheroots，andlefttheother——akindofliteraryCaesareanoperation。
WouldthereadercaretoknowsomethingaboutthestorywhichIpulledout？Hehasbeentoldmanyatimehowtheborn—
and—trainednovelistworks;won’theletmeroundandcompletehisknowledgebytellinghimhowthejacklegdoesit？
OriginallythestorywascalledTHOSEEXTRAORDINARYTWINS。
Imeanttomakeitveryshort。IhadseenapictureofayouthfulItalian"freak"——or"freaks"——whichwas——orwhichwere——
onexhibitioninourcities——acombinationconsistingoftwoheadsandfourarmsjoinedtoasinglebodyandasinglepairoflegs——
andIthoughtIwouldwriteanextravagantlyfantasticlittlestorywiththisfreakofnatureforhero——orheroes——
asillyyoungmissforheroine，andtwooldladiesandtwoboysfortheminorparts。Ilavishlyelaboratedthesepeopleandtheirdoings，ofcourse。Butthetakekeptspreadingalongandspreadingalong，andotherpeoplegottointrudingthemselvesandtakingupmoreandmoreroomwiththeirtalkandtheiraffairs。
AmongthemcameastrangernamedPudd’nheadWilson，andwomannamedRoxana;andpresentlythedoingsofthesetwopushedupintoprominenceayoungfellownamedTomDriscoll，whoseproperplacewasawayintheobscurebackground。Beforethebookwashalffinishedthosethreeweretakingthingsalmostentirelyintotheirownhandsandworkingthewholetaleasaprivateventureoftheirown——atalewhichtheyhadnothingatalltodowith，byrights。
WhenthebookwasfinishedandIcametolookaroundtoseewhathadbecomeoftheteamIhadoriginallystartedoutwith——
AuntPatsyCooper，AuntBetsyHale，andtwoboys，andRowenathelightweightheroine——theywerenowheretobeseen;theyhaddisappearedfromthestorysometimeorother。Ihuntedaboutandfoundthem——foundthemstranded，idle，forgotten，andpermanentlyuseless。Itwasveryawkward。Itwasawkwardallaround，butmoreparticularlyinthecaseofRowena，becausetherewasalovematchon，betweenherandoneofthetwinsthatconstitutedthefreak，andIhadworkedituptoablisteringheatandthrowninaquitedramaticlovequarrel，whereinRowenascathinglydenouncedherbetrothedforgettingdrunk，andscoffedathisexplanationofhowithadhappened，andwouldn’tlistentoit，andhaddrivenhimfromherintheusual"forever"way;
andnowhereshesatcryingandbrokenhearted;forshehadfoundthathehadspokenonlythetruth;thatiswasnothe，buttheotherofthefreakthathaddrunktheliquorthatmadehimdrunk;
thatherhalfwasaprohibitionistandhadneverdrunkadropinhislife，andaltogethertightasabrickthreedaysintheweek，waswhollyinnocentofblame;andindeed，whensober，wasconstantlydoingallhecouldtoreformhisbrother，theotherhalf，whonevergotanysatisfactionoutofdrinking，anyway，becauseliquorneveraffectedhim。Yes，hereshewas，strandedwiththatdeepinjusticeofherstorturingherpoortornheart。
Ididn’tknowwhattodowithher。Iwasassorryforherasanybodycouldbe，butthecampaignwasover，thebookwasfinished，shewassidetracked，andtherewasnopossiblewayofcrowdingherin，anywhere。Icouldnotleaveherthere，ofcourse;itwouldnotdo。Afterspreadingheroutso，andmakingsuchato—dooverheraffairs，itwouldbeabsolutelynecessarytoaccounttothereaderforher。Ithoughtandthoughtandstudiedandstudied;butIarrivedatnothing。Ifinallysawplainlythattherewasreallynowaybutone——Imustsimplygiveherthegrandbounce。Itgrievedmetodoit，forafterassociatingwithhersomuchIhadcometokindoflikeherafterafashion，notwithstandingthingsandwassonauseatinglysentimental。
Stillithadtobedone。SoatthetopofChapterXVIIIputa"Calendar"remarkconcerningJulytheFourth，andbeganthechapterwiththisstatistic：
"Rowenawentoutinthebackyardaftersuppertoseethefireworksandfelldownthewellandgotdrowned。"
Itseemedabrupt，butIthoughtmaybethereaderwouldn’tnoticeit，becauseIchangedthesubjectrightawaytosomethingelse。
AnywayitloosenedupRowenafromwhereshewasstuckandgotheroutoftheway，andthatwasthemainthing。Itseemedapromptgoodwayofweedingoutpeoplethathadgotstalled，andaplentygoodenoughwayforthoseothers;soIhuntedupthetwoboysandsaid，"Theywentoutbackonenighttostonethecatandfelldownthewellandgotdrowned。"NextIsearchedaroundandfoundoldAuntPatsyandAuntBetsyHalewheretheywerearound，andsaid，"Theywentoutbackonenighttovisitthesickandfelldownthewellandgotdrowned。"Iwasgoingtodrownsomeothers，butIgaveuptheidea，partlybecauseIbelievedthatifIkeptthatupitwouldaroseattention，andperhapssympathywiththosepeople，andpartlybecauseitwasnotalargewellandwouldnotholdanymoreanyway。
Stillthestorywasunsatisfactory。Herewasasetofnewcharacterswhowerebecomeinordinatelyprominentandwhopersistedinremainingsototheend;andbackyonderwasanoldersetwhomadealargenoiseandagreatto—doforalittlewhileandthensuddenlyplayedoututterlyandfelldownthewell。
Therewasaradicaldefectsomewhere，andImustsearchitoutandcureit。
Thedefectturnedouttobetheonealreadyspokenof——
twostoriesinone，afarceandatragedy。SoIpulledoutthefarceandleftthetragedy。Thislefttheoriginalteamin，butonlyasmerenames，notascharacters。Theirprominencewaswhollygone;
theywerenotevenworthdrowning;soIremovedthatdetail。
AlsoItookthetwinsapartandmadetwoseparatemenofthem。
Theyhadnooccasiontohaveforeignnamesnow，butitwastoomuchtroubletoremovethemallthrough，soIleftthemchristenedastheywereandmadenoexplanation。