“Come along with me, pet 78. I will make a sure enough dead one out of you if you trifle with me. When I have instructions to do anything, I generally do it.”
“Now, Mr. Pearson, I shall have to reprimand you. You are working under my instructions. I, bear in mind, hold a higher position over you, and you will have to explain to me the whys and wherefores of what you did, as you did not follow my directions.”
“I followed your instructions, sir, the best I could, after Pat spoke of a letter which was received here by you, written as a confession of the crime for which this poor fellow was doing time.”
“So your sympathies got such a hold over you that you use the expression ‘poor fellow,’ do you? My opinion is that the letter was a hoax to get sympathy for him while here. It was probably written by some friend of the man’s on the outside.”
A voice said: “You are accusing my son wrongfully, and you must suffer for it.”
“My God! Did you hear that?”
“Did I hear that? Yes, and I have heard that and more so many times that I have become quite familiar with the voice and do not feel alarmed at hearing it. Tell me what it was—you!”
“You, you, tell me what you think it was, and I will tell you something, then.”
“Well, sir, I am not going to try to express myself, for I can not do so, but I will go back to my part of the work.”
“You will remain here with me and express yourself as to what your belief is in regard to the mysterious voice we hear.”