“Guard, if that 78 prisoner hasn’t any aptitude for the position he has to occupy, you may bring him in. I will try to find out what vocation he has followed, and see if we can accommodate him.” As the guard left he shook his head, as if to say: “You can not have any luck in getting that fellow to work.” But the official in his own mind decided: “My dear old dad has often told me that kind words will do far more than harsh ones or harsh treatment. I am going to treat this prisoner with kindness and gentleness.” Then the acting superintendent looked up to see if he had a hard criminal to deal with, as No. 78 entered the door with his guard. He sank into his chair, gasping: “What do I see? My brother! Do my very eyes deceive me, or is it really he? A convict in this place!” CHAPTER VII. “MY BROTHER A CONVICT!” The official thought: “I must not let myself be known. I must not.” To the prisoner he said: “You may be seated, sir. I want to talk to you.” Then to the guard: “I will excuse you, guard. I wish to question the prisoner alone.” Turning to the prisoner: “Now, sir, I should like to hear something about yourself. Why were you sentenced, and have you registered under your real name?” “I have, sir. I am not a criminal. I have been sentenced because of strong circumstantial evidence. I am innocent. I did not commit the crime for which I am here.” “Well, my opinion of you is good. I do not believe that you are a murderer—at least, I hope not. What occupation did you follow before you came here?” “I was a follower of any work I could do—anything that my strength would permit me to do. I was not a disagreeable man. I made many friends.” “If you had many, your friends were no help to you in this case. Did not they offer any assistance?” “No, sir; I was judged wrongly from the beginning—that is, as soon as it was discovered that it was my handkerchief which was found by the dead lady’s side. My friends were nowhere to be found. I received cold and hard looks from all.” “Well, sir, I have heard your story. I want to ask you where you were born. What is your native country?” “My home, sir, is in England. When a very small boy, I ran away from home. I have grieved my dear old mother so much. I understand that she has since died, and after I heard that, I never cared to go home again, but I feel that many times she has spoken to me. Often, when I have been attracted to company I did not know well, I could feel that she was near me and I could hear these words: ‘_My son, be careful, be careful!_’ And I did not and would not go on after getting the warning, as I called it.” “You talk as if you had tried to live the right kind of a life, and I feel that you have, but in the position which I hold here I must not show any favors; otherwise I would do so in this case. Therefore I must give you work to fit the crime of which you have been accused. That will mean hard work.”