He went through the Court House Square past the old jail, glanced up under the trees at Hicks' barred window. “Aidee's getting a black eye too in there,” he thought. “That's too bad.” When he reached his rooms he was already thinking of Macclesfield's bridge. CHAPTER XI--THE BROTHERS |MAY I see Hicks?” The stout, bearded jailor nearly-filled the doorway. He puffed his short pipe deliberately, and stared at Aidee. The smoke floated up and around the gas jet over his head. “Ain't you the Preacher?” “So they call me.” The jailor stepped back, either in surprise or consent. Aidee walked into the opening and passed on. The jailor followed him. “Where is his cell?” “Spiritual consolation! That's it. That's the word,” said the jailor thoughtfully. “Some folks has the gift of it. Oils a chap up, don't it, so he'll slip out'n his corpse, like he was greased. Well, there's som'p'n in it. But I seen in the _Press_ this mornin'--say, you ain't goin' to instigate him again?” Aidee laughed, and said: “They have to be lively.” “That's right, Preacher. Folks say a thing, but what they got in their heads is the thing they don't say, ain't it?” “You're a philosopher.” “Oh, I do a pile of thinkin',” said the jailor complacently. He mounted slowly to the upper corridor, knocked at a door, and unlocked it. “Hicks, gentleman to see you.” Hicks looked up, blinking and shading his eyes. The jailor locked the door noisily behind Aidee, and walked away. At the end of the corridor he stopped and listened, and heard the murmur of low voices. He sat down and tipped his chair against the wall and meditated. “Spiritual consolation! That's the word.” Alcott leaned his back against the wall, and stared at Allen, who ran to his side and grasped his arm and whispered, “Don't you yell out!” while Sweeney was locking the door noisily. Sweeney's steps receded in the corridor. “What do you come here for? Keep quiet!” “Lolly!” “Who told you it was me?” He pulled him over to the table. They sat down and gripped hands across and looked dumbly at each other. Allen broke down first. He dropped his head on the table and gave soft, dry sobs. “Lolly, boy!” “Did he tell you it was me?” “Who?” “Hennion!” “Nobody told me it was you.” “You came to see Hicks!” He looked up suddenly with an impish grin. “Hey! I know! You wanted to ask me what I shot Wood for? That's what they all want to know.”