“Oh, what a relief it was to know that I was away from that strain for a while, at least!”
The acting superintendent thought: “I am going to see what the trouble is with No. 78. I wonder if that is the fellow who has caused so many mysterious things to happen around here. By George! I believe it is. I will ask the guard. Here he comes.”
“Guard, if that 78 prisoner hasn’t any aptitude for the position he has to occupy, you may bring him in. I will try to find out what vocation he has followed, and see if we can accommodate him.”
As the guard left he shook his head, as if to say: “You can not have any luck in getting that fellow to work.”
But the official in his own mind decided: “My dear old dad has often told me that kind words will do far more than harsh ones or harsh treatment. I am going to treat this prisoner with kindness and gentleness.”
Then the acting superintendent looked up to see if he had a hard criminal to deal with, as No. 78 entered the door with his guard. He sank into his chair, gasping:
“What do I see? My brother! Do my very eyes deceive me, or is it really he? A convict in this place!”