“Walk up fast, ‘pet.’ I am going to fill the order to a minute, and I will sure be proud to see him leaving me alone for a while. Here we are. Get in gently, ‘pet.’ I’ll be closing the door aisy, to not shock you. Now I must be bating it back to the office to get the other man.” “Well, Pearson, ‘murder will out.’” “I have not murdered anyone, and why should you talk to me in that way?” “I don’t think that your brother has, either.” “My brother!” “Yes, your brother. Do you not know that the convict is your brother? If you do not, I do.” “We have the same name. Is that any reason why we should be brothers?” “Not because you have the same name, no; but in this case the two men who bear the same name are brothers.” “Tell me, why am I to be placed behind the bars?” “So that you may not kill your brother.” “Man! I’m not going behind the bars on any such freak ideas as yours. I shall not be disgraced by a prisoner who has no cause to fear me, just because he has a name like mine and makes the statement that he fears me.” “You understand it all. Pearson, here is Pat. You may occupy cell No. 77, next to that of your brother. “Come along, Pat. Take charge of Mr. Pearson, here. “Give me your arms, officer.” “I will never do so, not as long as I have a drop of blood in my body. I shall not give up my arms and allow Pat, the scoundrel, to place me behind the bars.” “You will have it to do, sir. I will see that you do. Hand them over to me.” “I refuse to do so. I will die before I do.” “Well, me friend, you had better ask your God about that. Perhaps you are a little perverse about going.” “You are not acting wisely, Pearson. You had just as well be brave and await the outcome.” “Message here,” called out a voice. “Give it to me. The charges? None? Very well.” He read: “Your answer is, ‘Yes; we have the man in jail. Have his confession of murder of woman.’” “My God! Can it be? He has received it, and my brother will be free.” “I have not been deceived. Thank God, he is innocent!” exclaimed the superintendent. CHAPTER XVI. A NEW PRISONER IN CELL 78. “Mr. Pearson, have you decided to go quietly? I think you may now occupy your brother’s cell, since he is innocent of the crime, and the real murderer has confessed. This is the telegram which brought the news.” “Perhaps if I would call him a ‘pet’ and ‘fellow,’ he would come along with me,” said Pat. “The officer requested me to take you, so here, you ‘pet-fellow,’ you must go.” “Pat, Pat, don’t kill him! Let him up! I think he will go.” “I think he will, too. Here, take his gun—no, perhaps I had better take it along. I may need two of them. I only have six cartridges, and I have been carrying them some time. I may get a chance now to get rid of them, and I may need more.” “Pat, get some water. I’m afraid you have killed him.” “Well, he said he would die before he would go, and devil take him if he wanted to rush off in a hurry.”