“Clarence Pearson, is that your real name?” “It is, sir.” “Do you remember anything about your people?” “I do, sir.” “Tell me all you know about your family, and the number of children, brothers and sisters, and if your parents are living, and where you were born.” “I was a small boy when I left home, many years ago. My father I don’t remember much about. My poor dear mother has often told me that I was quite young at the time of his death. I have no sisters. I have one brother, who was at home when I left. I have since heard that my dear mother has died. After I heard that, I never had the heart nor courage to go home again.” “Was your mother in comfortable circumstances?” “Oh, yes, sir! My mother was a wealthy woman.” “And you will swear that that is your name?” “I will, sir.” “Pat, you may take him back.” “_You will not close the iron doors behind my child again! He is far more a free man, or should be, than the one sitting there in silence._” “Well, Pat, why don’t you take him? He is ready.” “So am I, but when you tell me to do a thing, and then tell me not to, how in the name of common sense do I know what to do?” “I have given you only one instruction, and that was to go.” “Well, then, who the devil told me not to take him?” “Did you get such orders?” “I did.” “When?” “Just now, and I got more than that.” “What did you get?” “I heard a voice—where it came from I don’t see, but my hearing is good—and this is what it said—I will look about me and see that I am not knocked down after I tell what I heard.” “Go on, and tell what you heard.” “Faith, and I will tell every word of it. I heard—as you finished telling me to take him back—I heard a voice say: ‘The doors will not close behind—’” “I can’t think what is the matter, Pat.” “I am getting them. I will be a dead man, here, soon, like some of the other ones around here has been. Anyway, I didn’t take the man back, did I?” “Pat, you are acting funny. What is the matter with you?” “Come along here! I will lock _you_ up if you are the guilty one.” “Pat, you are not going to take Mr. Pearson. He has not committed a crime.” “I say, come along here! You are the thief, to rob your brother of all and then sit and let him suffer.” “You are going mad, Pat. I shall have to call for help if you do not turn Officer Pearson loose.” “Call for help. All the power you have in this prison could not conquer me.” “I shall turn in a general alarm if you do not let him go.”