“You left home, Clarence, when a small boy. You never wrote and poor mother and I mourned you as dead. Years afterward mother died, and, not knowing where you were, I was called upon to swear that you were dead, and I did so. In that way I fell heir to all of the estate, which was numbered in the hundred thousands. And, not knowing of your whereabouts, I decided to invest it, and I lost it all, except what I have told you of.”
“I do not see the point in your demanding that I deny my name.”
“Do you not see that I have sworn falsely to obtain the money, and you know that places me just where you are to-day, Clarence.”
“Only you are guilty, Oliver, and I am not.”
“I BELAVE I’D BETTER NOT LISTEN ANNY MORE.”
“I belave I’d better not listen anny more. I am knowing too much. I may not be able to hold anny more in me head, for I have it crammed full now, and I have got to keep it there till I can let it out, a little at a time, and it takes a man a long time to tell the judge and keep from telling what he don’t want to.”
“I know that I am guilty, but you can save me if you will.”