“I am sure that you will regret this, Clarence. I would favor you in many ways while you were serving your sentence.” “Could you not do so, as you are one of the officials, without my doing as you wish me to do?” “Well, no. I should be suspected.” “Then how could you do so if I did as you request me to do—disown my name?” “Well, well!” “You are doing wrong, Oliver, to try to get me in deeper instead of helping me out. Why don’t you go out and look up the real murderer and prove your brother innocent? I am quite sure I should not disgrace you if it were proved that I had been sent here an innocent man.” “You see, after one has been behind prison bars, he is always looked down upon by the public.” “But not in the eyes of God. He knows the guilty from the innocent.” “Then you feel that you would rather stay in prison and work ten years, and go out a broken man and penniless, than to receive five thousand dollars, as I have promised you?” “If I have to lie for it, I’ll take the poverty and peace of mind.” “I am sorry for you, Clarence, and I shall return and have another talk with you some day. Perhaps you will change your mind. Good-bye.” “I thank you, brother, for the word spoken just now. Yes, my brother, you have a comfortable home and a family in society, and an innocent brother in prison for ten years.” “You have the habit of talking to yourself, have you?” It was Pat who spoke. “It helps a fellow, Pat, sometimes, when alone, to talk to himself.” “I am sure I heard two voices in here. I was after looking for a convict who occupied the next cell, 79, and I felt rather uneasy about you, and I thought I would see what you were doing, and I heard a very strange conversation in here.” “Pat, did you hear all that was said?” “Sure I did. What was I listening for if not to hear what was said?” “And did you see anyone leave here?” “Sure I did. When I see a man passing this way, I looked to find if he was a broke-away.” “And will you—” “I will keep my mouth shut until I have to open it.” “And would you tell all you heard?” “Indade I would. Well, I think I will be going along. I will stroll by the office and see if he looks any the better off since he could not get rid of his five thousand dollars.” “Pat, you always come just in time. Take this letter to the office. I want it to go out on the first mail. If I wait for it to be taken up, it would not get off on the first mail. Make haste, as I am quite anxious for this to go.” “You can depend on it going if I have to take the train and carry it myself.” To himself: “Well, I wonder what the rush was. I will pick up the torn pieces when I get the chance, and see what this means.” “Mr. Pearson,” said the superintendent, “I am called to attend to some business affairs. I shall leave you in charge of the office. I may not return until late.” “Very well, sir.”