“well, i have been repaid for this night’s work. i must get back to the office, before i am seen coming from this cell,” said the official.

“good morning, sir.”

“good morning, pearson. you are looking tired. have you had a hard night of it?”

“yes; i am trying to unravel a mystery, and i am somewhat worried.”

“so am i, pearson. i am trying to look into the past life of this prisoner, no. 78. i want to see if he has been a bad fellow. i am under the impression that he is not guilty of the crime for which he is being punished; he seems so honest about his past, and he has even given his real name, and that is some proof that he is no crook, or murderer. he would surely deny his name if he were either, and i feel it my duty to look into this whole affair.”

“well, officer, i am under the impression that he has registered under an assumed name—that he is holding back his real name.”

[153]

“why have you formed such an impression?”

“well, i have a feeling that he will tell his real name if pressed to do so.”

“i will send for him and we can press him for the truth.”

pat’s voice was heard as he approached, saying: “i wonder what this day will bring forth. here i am, walking to the office. i have a feeling that it is time the ‘pet-fellow’ had a little exercise, and i must be there in case i’m needed.”

“there you are, pat. you are always on hand when you are needed. you may bring no. 78 into the office.”

“i am getting to be a fortune-teller indade. i can tell when i am wanted without being told. here, you ‘pet-fellow’! wake up! i am going to take you for your morning’s walk.”

“i am very willing to go.”

“i am quite sure that you will go, willing or not. when i am told to do anything, i usually do it. here we are.”

“bring him in, pat.”

“plase open the door. how do you expect me to do—break in?”

“the night lock is thrown on, officer. how did that happen? we never do so unless we[154] all go inside of the prison. were you in the prison last night?”

“we will discuss that later. we have sent for the prisoner and he is here. let him in.”

“you may go, pat. we have some investigations to make, and we prefer to be alone.”

pat went, out, remaining within hearing and saying: “here is a very comfortable seat. i will sit meself down and i won’t have to walk so far when i come back.”

“now, did i understand you—no. 78 i am speaking to—did i understand you to say that you have given your real christian name, and surname also, to be recorded in the prison books?”

“well, i have been thinking.”

“about changing your name?”

“how do you know that, sir?”

“mr. pearson has told me so.”

“he told you so?”

“do you deny it—can you, will you?”

“my god! what shall i do? you have told him all?”

“i have told him nothing.”

“pearson, why are you so excited?”

“i am astonished at your falsehood.”

[155]

“and you may be more astonished before i get through with you.

“come, did i understand you to say—or have you answered me? do you hear me speak to you?”

“i do, sir. well, then, i will have to be protected if i tell the truth.”

“from whom?”

“oh, man! can not you see the danger i am in:”

“you in danger? explain in what way. with your god, for swearing to falsehoods, or from your fellow-man?”

“i have not deceived my god.”

“then you have given your own real name?”

“i will tell you. i have.”

“so you want protection, now you have told the truth? give me the name of your enemy.”

“officer, can you not relieve me of this torture? can you not see?”

“yes, i think i can.

“well, pearson, do you think you could rest comfortably behind the bars for a few hours?”

“i? what do you mean?”

“i mean that you have been trying to bribe this man to disown his name. now i am not[156] in the dark. i understand it all, and i am going to make a clean breast of it. i shall send him back to his cell, and send you to another one.”

“i’ll just get up and stretch myself. i may have to use my muscles, and club too,” commented pat. “i hope he will like his new home.”

“you must have good hearing, pat,” said the official. “i was just going to ring for you. you must hear my thoughts. you may take no. 78 back, and return at once.”

“i will, your honor.

“walk up fast, ‘pet.’ i am going to fill the order to a minute, and i will sure be proud to see him leaving me alone for a while. here we are. get in gently, ‘pet.’ i’ll be closing the door aisy, to not shock you. now i must be bating it back to the office to get the other man.”

“well, pearson, ‘murder will out.’”

“i have not murdered anyone, and why should you talk to me in that way?”

“i don’t think that your brother has, either.”

“my brother!”

“yes, your brother. do you not know that[157] the convict is your brother? if you do not, i do.”

“we have the same name. is that any reason why we should be brothers?”

“not because you have the same name, no; but in this case the two men who bear the same name are brothers.”

“tell me, why am i to be placed behind the bars?”

“so that you may not kill your brother.”

“man! i’m not going behind the bars on any such freak ideas as yours. i shall not be disgraced by a prisoner who has no cause to fear me, just because he has a name like mine and makes the statement that he fears me.”

“you understand it all. pearson, here is pat. you may occupy cell no. 77, next to that of your brother.

“come along, pat. take charge of mr. pearson, here.

“give me your arms, officer.”

“i will never do so, not as long as i have a drop of blood in my body. i shall not give up my arms and allow pat, the scoundrel, to place me behind the bars.”

“you will have it to do, sir. i will see that you do. hand them over to me.”

[158]

“i refuse to do so. i will die before i do.”

“well, me friend, you had better ask your god about that. perhaps you are a little perverse about going.”

“you are not acting wisely, pearson. you had just as well be brave and await the outcome.”

“message here,” called out a voice.

“give it to me. the charges? none? very well.”

he read: “your answer is, ‘yes; we have the man in jail. have his confession of murder of woman.’”

“my god! can it be? he has received it, and my brother will be free.”

“i have not been deceived. thank god, he is innocent!” exclaimed the superintendent.