“Clarence, you have been thinking this over, have you—what we were talking about? I hope you will be sensible now, and make up your mind to do as I want you to.” “You want me to swear that I am not Clarence Pearson?” “Yes. You will be helping yourself by so doing.” “Well, then, I will.” “That will help you to look forward for something to live on ten years from now.” “Well, what can I do to help you out of your trouble?” “My trouble? I am not in trouble.” “You are not worried over my not doing as you requested me to do?” “No. Only for your own good.” “Then tell me, if I change my mind when the time comes to deny it, what harm could it do you?” “I should have to—” “Finish what you were going to say.” “I’ll tell you all, Clarence, if you will promise me that you will do as I want you to.” “Well, tell me, brother.” “I am going to make a clean breast of it all.” “I think I had better be getting up closer,” whispered Pat. “I may think I’m hearing and not hear, for I am looking for the poor devil to tie a noose around his neck before he gets through with the clean breast he spoke of.” “Go on, Oliver; tell me. You are talking to your brother. You need not fear my betraying you—never, Oliver!” “You left home, Clarence, when a small boy. You never wrote and poor mother and I mourned you as dead. Years afterward mother died, and, not knowing where you were, I was called upon to swear that you were dead, and I did so. In that way I fell heir to all of the estate, which was numbered in the hundred thousands. And, not knowing of your whereabouts, I decided to invest it, and I lost it all, except what I have told you of.” “I do not see the point in your demanding that I deny my name.” “Do you not see that I have sworn falsely to obtain the money, and you know that places me just where you are to-day, Clarence.” “Only you are guilty, Oliver, and I am not.” [Illustration: “I BELAVE I’D BETTER NOT LISTEN ANNY MORE.”] “I belave I’d better not listen anny more. I am knowing too much. I may not be able to hold anny more in me head, for I have it crammed full now, and I have got to keep it there till I can let it out, a little at a time, and it takes a man a long time to tell the judge and keep from telling what he don’t want to.” “I know that I am guilty, but you can save me if you will.” “Brother Oliver, I am sorry for you and I will do all I can for you. I will do as you have asked me to do.” “Thanks, dear brother. And I shall be a brother to you while you are in prison.” “Now I think they have all the secrets told, and I’ll walk around and see if I can persuade the officer to tell me where the fire was. He was so obliging to do my work for me,” mumbled Pat. “Come along, Pat; you may take the fellow back,” called Mr. Pearson. Pat to himself: “Oh! he is being called a ‘fellow,’ is he? If I bring him here to the office many more times, he will be a gentleman, not a convict.”