“I am going to remain on guard to-night, officer, and I shall not be in the office. I speak of this so that you will not keep late hours for me.”
“Very well, Pearson.”
“I wonder what he is up to now,” thought the superintendent. “I must be on guard myself to-night, and I must remain where I can watch cell No. 78. It is now ten-thirty o’clock—a good hour to lock up the office. I’ll walk quietly to cell 77—it is empty to-night—and I may know more in the morning than I do to-night. Here comes Pat. I will tell him to keep watch on the office to-night, for emergency calls. He can hear the bells ringing, and if—well, by George! I’d rather Pat would not know where I am. I’ll have to take the chances of the bells ringing. I may hear them if they do. It is not a great distance to the office.”
“Your honor, I’m thinking of going to my bed. I am top-heavy, and would like to lay me down for a while. I think it would do me good. Too much to carry around, and too good to let it get away.”
“All right, Pat; you may go.”
To himself: “Now I shall learn something for myself. I’d better disguise myself, for fear of meeting Pearson. I’ll put on this slouch hat. He would not recognize me in that; a hat changes one’s looks sometimes so that even close friends could not be recognized.
“Hark! I hear voices! I believe it is Pearson’s voice in cell 78. I must be very quiet. Sure enough! Now I shall find out for myself.”
“I will try, Clarence, to favor you in having you placed in a position where you can make your get-away, and I will give you money to go on. Would you go if that opportunity presented itself?”
“Oliver, what do you mean? Are you trying to get me here for the rest of my life? I would not be here at all if you would do for me what a brother should do.”
“I am trying to help you, Clarence, and you won’t let me.”