Matthew De Vere and me was waitin' near the old Booker barn to club Fred Worthington. Matthew hired me to help him. We both had a club. 'Twas 'bout twelve o'clock in the night I gess. Matthew sed he was goin' to get square with Fred. Matthew told me to strike him on the leg, and he sed he would do the efecktive work and fix him so he wouldn't interfear with him any more. When you come along we darted on you thinking you was Fred. I hit you a hard clip on the leg. Matthew was reddy to strike you on the head, but saw his mistake and stopped jest in time and ran away.
(Signed) Tim Short.
The above statement is true.
Matthew De Vere.
"Have you ever seen this paper before?" asked the doctor.
"No, sir, never."
"Knew nothing of it?"
"No, sir."
"You little realized, then, how near you came to being waylaid and——" but the doctor didn't finish the sentence.
"I never had the slightest suspicion of it."