“Your honor, would you have confidence in me at all if I would sit here and let the prisoners all walk out? Just about two minutes ago a lady came to the office and asked to come in. After I opened the door, she just walked right through the office and out of the door. I called to her to halt, and she did not stop, and I made a start for her, and in all my life I never saw a female get the space between her and me as she did.” “Do you mean to tell me that you have let some of the prisoners get away?” “I mane to tell you that the lady that came through that door got away—prisoner, or whatever you may call her.” “Pat, I am not going to discharge you now, for I shall have to see what convict it was and what was her sentence here. Then I shall be better able to deal with you. I am sorry, Pat, that you have proved to be such an untrustworthy guard, and I, as well as Mr. Pearson, here, have found you to be misrepresenting things all along and causing any amount of trouble. Now you may go and do what the last orders gave you to do, and I will take care of my man. If you find any more strange things around here, don’t come to me. I shall not go to investigate another call from you. Now go.” “Your honor, I would like to spake a word in my own behalf. I am not as you have expressed yourself that I was, untrustworthy. I will swear to my Father in Heaven that I have been honest, honest in all my actions, and when I called for help, you were informed right. I gave the correct reports, and I want to say now that if you have that kind of opinion of me, I will lave the prisoners and you may look for another Pat. I am not a thafe. If so, I would be wearing the stripes instead of the blue, and I feel I have been misjudged. I hope that you will find out that Pat was just what you thought, true and trustworthy, and I will say to you that you had better keep an eye on your fellow-officer, Mr. Pearson. I feel that he has caused you to form the opinion you have.” “Pat, go and do your duty, and all will work out right by and by.” “I will, your honor; but whenever you want the club I carry, the same is yours for the asking. I am ready to quit when I am not the gentleman I should be.” “Pearson, have you ever had any trouble with Pat?” “I have not.” “I believe that you and he have not the best of feeling for each other. Can you explain the condition?” “I have no grievance against Pat. I do not understand why he should bring in such alarming reports, reports which on investigation prove to be untrue, absolutely untrue, with no base or foundation whatever, and that is why I am not particularly fond of Pat.” “It is all a very strange affair. During my absence did you have a conversation with Convict 78? And what was the object of that conversation? What was your reason for dismissing Pat, after he had brought the convict in?” “I do not remember doing so.” “I have been informed that you did. There should be no secrets among the officials and the prisoners.”