“Oh! you have him in there, have you, locked up?” “I believe I mentioned the fact that I had him under lock and key.” “My god, man, what have you done to this poor man?” “Mr. Pearson, I am sorry to see this.” Pat muttered in a low voice: “You would be doing a good turn if you would go to the poor wife and give some sympathy to those beautiful daughters. They have never stole annything and threatened to kill afterwards if the one they robbed hollered about it. I have given him a good bating, and I think it did him good, but I never want the ladies to come here again and do anny more crying. I had to drop a tear meself.” “Officer, what does this mean? Did you allow that Irishman to beat this poor man like this before his family?” “No, sir; his family were not here.” “He spoke of their tears.” “They were here afterward, and—” “Go on and tell what happened. I am astonished.” “I have explained what he did. I do not see why, as he has violated the law, he should not be locked up as any other prisoner is.” “A man is not guilty until proved so.” “And I order this man to be turned loose. You have no authority to claim him as a prisoner. He has never been arrested, no warrant for him has been issued, and I do not believe him guilty.” “I am in a position to prove his guilt.” “I do not believe you, sir.” “I shall ask Pearson to speak for himself.” “You—Mr. Pearson I am speaking to—please tell the officials here what you told your wife and daughters.” “I am willing to plead guilty.” “Oh, my God! And my son to marry a daughter of this man! I can not allow him to do so. Take Pearson away—take him away and do what you please with him. I have heard enough from his own lips—‘I plead guilty.’” “Come, McHenry, I have had nothing to say, and now I do not want to say anything. I have heard enough.” “This is awful. My son to marry this man’s daughter! The engagement was announced last night. The marriage shall never take place.” “Come along, Mr. McHenry. We can talk that over after we leave here.” “Good morning, sir.” “Good morning, gentlemen.” “Well, Pat, you may place the prisoner in cell 77.” “Come along. You are a fine bird, you are. You are not satisfied with ruining your own reputation, but you had to bring sorrow to your daughter. Your children must suffer along with yourself. I pity the poor young man that is engaged to marry the girl. I have been there meself. I was engaged to a beautiful girl, and when the father found out some things he would never listen to me marrying her, and it was not because I stole all the money I could lay me hands on; it was because I was a Irishman. “Well, you have got a nice place here. ’Tis a pity you had not been here all the time, then you would have had all your money yet. “I’ll drop around male times, and see if you have the same as the other gentlemen get here.”