TOMwasaglitteringherooncemore—thepetoftheold,theenvyoftheyoung. Hisnameevenwentintoimmortalprint,forthevillagepapermagnifiedhim. ThereweresomethatbelievedhewouldbePresident,yet,ifheescapedhanging. Asusual,thefickle,unreasoningworldtookMuffPottertoitsbosomandfondledhimaslavishlyasithadabusedhimbefore. Butthatsortofconductistotheworld'scredit;thereforeitisnotwelltofindfaultwithit. Tom'sdaysweredaysofsplendorandexultationtohim,buthisnightswereseasonsofhorror. InjunJoeinfestedallhisdreams,andalwayswithdoominhiseye. Hardlyanytemptationcouldpersuadetheboytostirabroadafternightfall. PoorHuckwasinthesamestateofwretchednessandterror,forTomhadtoldthewholestorytothelawyerthenightbeforethegreatdayofthetrial,andHuckwassoreafraidthathisshareinthebusinessmightleakout,yet,notwithstandingInjunJoe'sflighthadsavedhimthesufferingoftestifyingincourt. Thepoorfellowhadgottheattorneytopromisesecrecy,butwhatofthat? SinceTom'sharassedconsciencehadmanagedtodrivehimtothelawyer'shousebynightandwringadreadtalefromlipsthathadbeensealedwiththedismalestandmostformidableofoaths,Huck'sconfidenceinthehumanracewaswell–nighobliterated. DailyMuffPotter'sgratitudemadeTomgladhehadspoken;butnightlyhewishedhehadsealeduphistongue. HalfthetimeTomwasafraidInjunJoewouldneverbecaptured;theotherhalfhewasafraidhewouldbe. Hefeltsurehenevercoulddrawasafebreathagainuntilthatmanwasdeadandhehadseenthecorpse. Rewardshadbeenoffered,thecountryhadbeenscoured,butnoInjunJoewasfound. Oneofthoseomniscientandawe–inspiringmarvels,adetective,cameupfromSt.Louis,mousedaround,shookhishead,lookedwise,andmadethatsortofastoundingsuccesswhichmembersofthatcraftusuallyachieve.Thatistosay,he"foundaclew." Butyoucan'thanga"clew"formurder,andsoafterthatdetectivehadgotthroughandgonehome,Tomfeltjustasinsecureashewasbefore. Theslowdaysdriftedon,andeachleftbehinditaslightlylightenedweightofapprehension. 
