“Had it not been for the fact that I might have missed some of the words that were being spoken, I should have called you, doctor. I stepped into the room, and there he—the prisoner, I mean—was standing, talking, his eyes open and apparently he was himself. I inquired of Pat what was wrong, and he—the prisoner—answered by saying, ‘I am not guilty.’ The murderer’s name was given, and many more things were said, which I dare not mention now.”
“Here is Pat.”
“Well, give me my time. I am a brave Irishman, I can bate a fellow to death if need be, but I am not brave enough, when the dead come around and talk to me, to stick around any longer. Faith, I did not see anything, but I surely heard, and I know that I will fall dead if I ever see one of the dead ones walking around here.”
“Pat, I can not give you your time. You are needed here. Go along and do your duty, and I will send for you if you are wanted.”
“I hope you will never send for me if the dead want me.”
“Pat is a good, trusty fellow, and, doctor, I am glad I can make a confidant of you in this matter. I am given the address of a person. I am going to write at once to the proper authorities and see if they can find the name, a very strange name. I never heard it before. I don’t think they can get the wrong fellow if they find one by that name.”
“I would advise you to investigate, officer. People are oftentimes innocent, although apparently proved guilty by law, and I am prejudiced against circumstantial evidence. Many poor men are serving time because of that kind of evidence.”
“I am going to thank you—”
“Did you speak? Did you?”
“No, doctor. You have heard some of that voice which we hear so often. Can you explain?”