VII

Then the pastor said: Talk of the gallows

Is just the thing for it's righteous malice;

And we need hearts with piety callous

For work like this, I might say salus

Populi, but bright-eyed Alice

Can help us in this matter kinetic

Who has grown psychic and grown prophetic,

Sees round corners, and looks through doors

And spies old treasure under the floors.

And I have heard that Alice averred,

The cornet player's the self-same bird

Who enticed the wife of Starling Turner

And kidnapped Imogene; he will spurn her

Later for some one else, unless we

Capture and hang the vile sojourner;

So now for Alice, he said, and bless me!