Boss Coggswell was greatly disappointed when his lieutenant reported to him that the letter carrier had refused to avail himself of this opportunity to seek safety in flight.
“It is too bad,” he sighed. “I would have preferred to let this unfortunate young man down easy. He has chosen unwisely. A sojourn abroad is much more pleasant than several years behind bars. But since he refuses to accept my aid,” he went on, those expressive ears of his wagging rapidly, “I’m afraid he’ll have to go to jail. Yes, Jake, as much as it pains me to have to say it, I am quite certain now that he’ll have to go to jail.”
CHAPTER XII.
ON THE STAND.
Boss Coggswell was not present in the courtroom when Owen Sheridan’s came up for trial. Not that he was not interested, nor was it a feeling of delicacy which kept him away; but he realized that his presence might excite comment and lend color to the accused man’s assertion that he was the victim of a conspiracy.
“You’ll be there, of course, Jake,” he said to his subordinate, “and I’ll rely on you to bring me the news just as soon as a verdict is reached.”
Hines grinned. “Yes, you can bet your boots, boss, that I won’t lose any time gettin’ here with the glad tidings. I guess you’re right in decidin’ not to be present. It’d look pretty raw for you to go to court. No use takin’ any unnecessary chances.”
“It isn’t that, Jake,” replied Coggswell deprecatingly. “It isn’t that, my boy. I have no reason to be afraid. When one’s conscience is clear, one doesn’t have to worry about what people might think. But the fact is, Jake, I have a tender heart—you ought to know that by this time—and I could not bear to be present to witness that poor man’s sufferings.”
Hines grinned again, and looked at his chief admiringly. “All right, boss,” he said. “You wait here, and[Pg 51] I’ll bring you the news as soon as the jury brings in a verdict.”
Hines had not the slightest doubt as to what that verdict was going to be. He felt confident that the evidence against Sheridan was so crushingly conclusive that the jury wouldn’t hesitate more than three minutes before deciding that he was guilty.
If he had any apprehensions on the subject they would have been dispelled by what he had seen that morning. He had encountered Owen on the street, walking arm in arm with Judge Lawrence, and if ever two men looked worried, the accused carrier and his counsel did.