Tom and Huck's money is the talk of the town. Everyone becomes treasure hunters, boys and men both. The paper publishes biographies of the boys. Their money goes into the bank to collect interest, where it earns a dollar a day for each boy. Judge Thatcher is very proud of Tom for saving Becky's life, and when Becky tells him about Tom taking her punishment in class, he swears he will try and help Tom get into the National Military academy and law school. Huck, kicking and screaming, becomes a member of St. Petersburg society. He moves into Widow Douglas' house, where he survives three weeks of proper living before running away. Tom finds him hiding in a hogshead behind the old slaughterhouse, and tries to get him to return to the Widow's home. Huck says:
"'Don't talk about it, Tom. I've tried it, and it don't work; it don't work, Tom. It ain't for me; I ain't used to it. The widder's good to me, and friendly; but I can't stand them ways. She makes me git up just at the same time every morning; she makes me wash, they comb me all to thunder; she won't let me sleep in the woodshed; I got to wear them blamed clothes that just smothers me, Tom; they don't seem to let any air git through 'em, somehow; and they're so rotten nice that I can't set down, nor lay down, nor roll around anywher's; I hain't slid on a cellar-door for--well, it 'pears to be years; I got to go to church and sweat and sweat--I hate them ornery sermons! I can't ketch a fly in there, I can't chaw. I got to wear shoes all Sunday. The widder eats by a bell; she goes to bed by a bell; she gits up by a bell--everything's so awful reg'lar a body can't stand it.'"Chapter 35, pg. 205
Huck continues to complain endlessly, but Tom steps in and tells him that they are still going to be robbers, rich or not. For Huck to be in the gang, however, he has to act respectable, because robbers are noble. Huck agrees to return if Tom promises to let him in the gang. Tom decides to hold the initiation to his gang that same night, where they will swear to stand by each other. They'll swear on a coffin in a haunted house. Huck says this sounds better than being a pirate, and says he's live with the Widow forever if he gets to be a robber.
Here the story of Tom's adventures ends: "When one writes a novel about grown people, he knows exactly where to stop--that is, with a marriage; but when he writes of juveniles, he must stop where he best can." Chapter 35, pg. 208
