“‘What! You think that I would not do my part if I were given work which I could do? I know that I would do my part if given work I could do. I know I would do my part. Oh, please give me a chance! I only want an opportunity to live, if I can, those ten years I must stay in here—or, at least, until I am proved innocent.’ “‘Well, how do you think you can prove that you are innocent?’ “‘The real murderer has written to the superintendent and confessed his guilt—or, at least, a letter has been sent here stating that I am innocent.’ “‘You received such a statement?’ “‘I did not, but the officer did—the one whose place you are filling.’ “‘I will look into this matter, at once.’ “‘You may take him back to his cell, guard, and I will send for him again when I have investigated this thoroughly. Take him back, and return at once.’ “I was sure that if he were innocent, he could be proved to be so, and I decided to go about it at once. “‘A great man, he is,’ said the guard. ‘We have had more trouble with him than with twenty-five of the other prisoners together.’ “‘Do you know anything in regard to a letter written here?’ “‘I do not. I think that the superintendent has taken a letter for use while he is working on the case for the poor devil.’ “‘Well, I will go to the records and see if there is a record of any such letter.’ “‘I hope that you will do something in a hurry, for I am getting tired of pacing back and forward with the gentleman,’ said the guard. ‘I feel that I have need of a pair of shoes sot to going some other direction than from 78’s cell to the office and back.’ “‘Well, Pat, what is your opinion of this case? Do you think the man is innocent, or not?’ “‘I’m not here acting as judge, but if he is guilty, the mon should work. Setting around eating of the victuals and his toime going on just the same!’ “‘The only way to prove his innocence would be for the poor woman to come back and tell how the murder was done, and I don’t think there would be any of us here to do time or see others did if we would see her here telling us how she was murdered.’ “‘I, for one, would be a dead Pat.’ “‘Well, Pat, we are both in doubt about the prisoner’s guilt. Now, as long as he is here and proved guilty, say we find work for him to do. What would there be to do where a man could work and not work?’ “‘Leave him have the same job he has had—rest in his cell when he is not on the road here and back.’ “‘If you want a job of that kind, you misunderstand me, Pat. As I understand the poor man, he has never done very hard manual labor, and to place him to work of that kind, I fear, would make it necessary to soon change again. I am sorry that it had to fall to me to confine a convict to hard labor and feel that he is innocent [in an undertone] and my brother!’ “‘Well, shall I bring the poor devil in? My shoes has pointed that way; every toime I start the shoes on my very feet wants to track to 78’s cell.’