"It's perfectly simple; a child would have thought of it. He is all

right, not a flaw in him, as far as I have carried the work. If I've

been able to bring him as far as the beginning of this century, what's to

stop me now? I'll go on and materialize him down to date."

Land, I never thought of that!" said Hawkins all ablaze with joy again.

It's the very thing. What a brain you have got! And will he shed the

superfluous arm?"

He will."

And lose his English accent?"

It will wholly disappear. He will speak Cherokee Strip--and other forms

of profanity."

Colonel, maybe he'll confess!"

Confess? Merely that bank robbery?"

Merely? Yes, but why 'merely'?"

The Colonel said in his most impressive manner: "Hawkins, he will be

wholly under my command. I will make him confess every crime he ever

committed. There must be a thousand. Do you get the idea?"

210

The American Claimant