"And then," said the younger woman, weeping in sympathy,—"to recall every incident,—the details of the treatment,—to make us feel that everything was done for poor Phil that we could have had done, had we been with him too! I don't see how we could bear to think of Phil, except that Mr. Gorham was with him to the last."
"And listened to his latest sigh and closed his eyes in death!" said his mother.
"And then he almost died too; he risked his life—to make sure that Phil had every chance for his own! Oh,—Frank!"
"Yes, yes,—he followed him to the gates of death and was only turned back by a miracle, it seemed—oh, Frank!"
"But it can't be a question of money with Frank," said his sister-in-law, wiping her eyes. "Frank would not stand on a question of mere money!"
"He thinks that we may be misconstrued," explained her husband. "And at first I was doubtful. But now it seems very plain. Gorham naturally does not want to keep this child cooped up in jail so long. He'll prosecute him fast enough if the boy seems to have really had anything to do with the crime or any guilty knowledge of it. But Gorham doesn't believe this. He thinks the facts will come out the sooner if the boy is footloose and free. Of course he will be kept under surveillance all the time, and could hardly run away if he wished. We are in no sort of danger of losing the money, as far as that goes, and really I could not refuse Gorham,—he was so intent upon it!"
"Oh,—Frank!" cried his mother.
"Oh,—Frank!" cried his brother's wife.
"Where's my hat?" said the athlete faintly. "Take the baby before I drop him! I'm fairly knocked out! Let me go! Come, Jim!"
On the way down town Frank was again over the traces once or twice, but kicking was in vain, and he was going easily in harness, although fully realizing the awkwardness of the situation, when late in the afternoon they were admitted to the jail. As the door of the cell opened, the jailer with grim humor said to Ned, "I'm sorry to part with you, my boy,—the next time you come you must make us a longer visit!"