Murder -- Investigation -- Fiction; United States -- Social life and customs -- 20th century -- Fiction
“I see his mouth twitch. I hope he will revive soon.”
“I think he is saying to himself what he will do when he gets up, but if
I have anny strength left, I think he will come along with me, as soon
as he is able to walk, and nary stretcher will I carry him on, until I
know he is indade a dead one. He went to fight back. I think when he
comes to he will see that fighting is hard on the eyes. See the eye turn
black, will you? You would think he had been dead a long while and was
mortifying.”
“Come, Pat, help me to get him on his feet.”
“You had better let him rest easy where he is.”
“I am asking you for help, and I want it.”
“I’ll help you, your honor. I never have refused a thing you have asked
me to do.”
“Come, Pearson; can you stand up? Try.”
“I am not hurt. I am only dizzy.”
“I am glad. I hope that you will now obey orders, and not cause any more
excitement.”
“What shall I do, officer?”
“Pat, show him the way.”
“Come along, officer—Mr. Pearson—‘pet’ ‘fellow.’ Oh, how I would like
to add a few more pet names to them! Indade, when he has no gun he is
willing to ask what to do. Well, I will show you. This way out. I feel
that you was not so very much surprised, only in the one way.”
“So the poor fellow was innocent, and the guilty one has confessed. I
hope I shall never have another innocent man here while I am in charge
of the place. I must send word to Pearson’s family. They will be alarmed
when he does not come home. It will be a great shock to the family—to
those beautiful society daughters. It will be a calamity to them. How
shall I break the news? I would not dare to send Pat. He has a grievance
against Pearson, and would not show any mercy on the family. I shall call
the officials together and state the whole circumstances, and then we can
see what steps to take to protect his family. I am anxious to see Pat
back. I hope he will not have any more trouble. Here he comes now. Well,
Pat, is he all right?”
“I think he is able to talk. After he was locked up, I stepped to one
side and he thought I had gone, and the poor brother was getting the
devil, and he promised him more than I just now gave him. I think that
the poor brother will be scared to leave the place when he is turned
loose.”
“Pat, why are you referring to the brother? What do you know about it?”
“I guess what I know would do someone good and would bring someone harm.”
“Tell me, Pat, how did you hear these things?”
“I have not got these ears on the sides of my head just for looks.
They was put there to hear with, and I am going to hear when there are
annything to be heard.”
“When did you hear all this, Pat?”
“I am after hearing it some time ago.”
“Pat, I thought I could trust you to tell me everything that went wrong
inside of these prison walls.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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