“And I am being deceived by one in whom I have placed confidence. Pat is a good fellow. I can not believe that he would deceive me. Perhaps, after all, I had better watch him, as well as the other one,” thought the superintendent. “I need help. I have too many to watch. I can not be here and there too, but I will stay by the prisoner until I have satisfied myself that he is right or wrong.” “Come quick! Help! help! The fellow has turned into a woman and it looks as if there were half a dozen people where he is,” called Pat; “and he spakes like a woman. All he would have to do would be to put on a woman’s clothes and you would let him pass out on her voice, be jabers! She might be cultivating the voice to make her get away, but when they get by Pat they will have to go when I am aslape, for I am not here to let anyone get away without their papers of freedom. You will have to come, as the prisoners are killing time, listening to the lady speaking.” “Now, office superior,” said Mr. Pearson, “you have so much confidence in Pat, leave him in charge of the office, and I will go with you to see what is wrong with the prisoner—78.” “I will do that.” “Pat, take care of this office until we return. Come along, Pearson. Make haste, this way.” “Well, I felt all along I would be the man to fill this place, and some day this Irishman will be called the ‘supperior officer’ around this prison. I hope they will succeed in finding the lady still talking—or the gentleman, whichever it is.” “Well, officer, do you see anything wrong? The fellow is working.” “I do not understand this, and no excitement among the prisoners.” “Well, I say the trouble is in the false reports made by Pat.” “We will go back to the office and I shall ask Pat to explain what he meant by causing all this excitement by false reports. Now that we are on the way back to the office, I want to talk to you about those mysterious voices. How do you account for them? Well, I was in hopes you would be able to tell me something. What have you heard, Pearson?” “I have heard more than I care to hear again.” “You are not frightened, are you?” “Well, I am not praying to hear any more of it.” “I am going to say to Pat that he is not fooling anyone any more; the next time he comes with such stories, he will be sent back to take care of his own trouble. What, the office door open? What does that mean? Where is Pat?” CHAPTER XI. THE MYSTERY DEEPENS. “I think Pat has left the place. After all his false reports, he will, or perhaps has, felt that he will be discharged, and will go before notice is given.” “Here he comes. Well, Pat, what do you mean? Is that the way you do when trusted with the care of this office? Did I not say to you that I had all confidence in you? And now you have given me cause to doubt you in all things.”