“Oh, no! Almost any one of the prisoners would walk out if he had the chance.” “If they did, I surely would walk out with them.” “We are not looking for trouble, Pat. It probably will come soon enough. Open the door. I thought I heard a rap.” “So you did, and so did I.” It was a messenger-boy. The communication read: “We have a prisoner here, a confessed murderer. Will leave for your place in the morning.” “All right, no answer,” the superintendent called to the waiting messenger. “I am so glad to receive this.” “Is that the looked-for message?” “It is, and the self-confessed murderer will be here to-morrow evening. With him they will bring the papers releasing No. 78, Clarence Pearson, an innocent man. Do you know anything about this, Pat? You sit there and do not look alarmed or excited over anything I am telling you. I usually act so when I understand it all.” “Well, I have nothing to say. If I did, I would say it without you asking me to. If I am not wanted, I’ll stroll around; or do you want me to keep house and you stroll around? It is nearly bed-time.” “No; I think I shall retire, as I have been somewhat worried to-day. I shall lock up at once, and try to get around early in the morning, Pat. We shall have a new man to take care of to-morrow.” “I’ll do that, sir.” “Now Pat is gone, and he will no doubt go at once to 77 cell and tell Pearson all he has learned. I wanted him to know that the man is coming and the brother would be a free man. I think I had best get some more information, so I’ll just drop around and rest a while in 76 cell and see what the plot will be, as Pearson must know that he will have his trial soon. I feel certain that the officials have been prolonging matters through pity for the family. Mr. McHenry was probably slow to take action because his son was engaged to Pearson’s daughter. Of course he would try to avoid scandal as much as possible. I’ll probably find Pat busy with his prisoner, fixing up their plot, so I’ll lock up here and step around. What? I see Pat’s going in now. I must hurry to get the first of the plot.” “I’m here, me friend.” “I’m glad to see you, Pat. We must decide to-night upon some way to make our get-away from here.” “Yes, and if we are not careful, the brother will bate us out.” “Have you heard anything?” “Have I? Well, I heard it all. The real murderer will be here to-morrow, and then what will they hold him for?” “My brother?” “Yes, your brother.” “We must be out of here before to-morrow comes. What can we do? Now, Pat, make your wits work fast.” “I am thinking, and the main thing I’m thinking about is the money to make the gentleman out of me. Where is the money?” “Don’t let that worry you, Pat. I have plenty.” “Well, if you have plenty, if you give your brother back his money, you would be out of here as soon as he would, and save all scandal, and he a poor man freed from here, wouldn’t he keep his mouth shut if he could be made a gentleman out of?”