"They have so little real happiness," the nurse said. "I've hoped Zeke would come back. Nothing here has ever made them happier and laugh more loudly than Zeke."
Johnson walked through the waves of free wild laughter to Zeke's side. He whispered.
"Stay right here, Zeke. Don't leave this room until I give you the word. These kids really appreciate you, Zeke. Believe me, I'm not lying this time. These kids are happy now, because of you, and they don't have much happiness. Life's worth living right now for them, Zeke. And it's because of you. Stay right here."
"I am very sick," Zeke said. "I will do as you say. I cannot go further."
Johnson backed to the door, managed to smile to the nurse, and went into the hall.
Quickly he shut the door as the police rushed in. Captain Maxson, in charge of some detail or other, a short heavy blond young man, eager to do his duty, grabbed at Johnson.
"You go blundering in there to get Zeke," Johnson said, "and you'll not only take a chance of injuring or killing some of those kids, but what's worse, you may frighten them, disillusion them for the rest of their lives!"
"But that monster's liable to start killing in there," whispered Maxson hoarsely.
"If you go charging in there anything can happen. Let me do it my way and there won't be any trouble."