The official thought: “I must not let myself be known. I must not.”

To the prisoner he said: “You may be seated, sir. I want to talk to you.”

Then to the guard: “I will excuse you, guard. I wish to question the prisoner alone.”

Turning to the prisoner: “Now, sir, I should like to hear something about yourself. Why were you sentenced, and have you registered under your real name?”

“I have, sir. I am not a criminal. I have been sentenced because of strong circumstantial evidence. I am innocent. I did not commit the crime for which I am here.”

“Well, my opinion of you is good. I do not believe that you are a murderer—at least, I hope not. What occupation did you follow before you came here?”

“I was a follower of any work I could do—anything that my strength would permit me to do. I was not a disagreeable man. I made many friends.”

[73]

“If you had many, your friends were no help to you in this case. Did not they offer any assistance?”

“No, sir; I was judged wrongly from the beginning—that is, as soon as it was discovered that it was my handkerchief which was found by the dead lady’s side. My friends were nowhere to be found. I received cold and hard looks from all.”

“Well, sir, I have heard your story. I want to ask you where you were born. What is your native country?”

“My home, sir, is in England. When a very small boy, I ran away from home. I have grieved my dear old mother so much. I understand that she has since died, and after I heard that, I never cared to go home again, but I feel that many times she has spoken to me. Often, when I have been attracted to company I did not know well, I could feel that she was near me and I could hear these words: ‘My son, be careful, be careful!’ And I did not and would not go on after getting the warning, as I called it.”

“You talk as if you had tried to live the right kind of a life, and I feel that you have, but in the position which I hold here I must[74] not show any favors; otherwise I would do so in this case. Therefore I must give you work to fit the crime of which you have been accused. That will mean hard work.”

“I am willing to work, but do not give me work that my strength will not allow me to do. I am weak. I do not get the substantial food that you do, therefore I am not able to work hard. You do not know what it means to be punished for a crime committed by another. I am being punished for a murder which I never committed, and I ask you to have mercy on me.”

“You are guilty until proved innocent. I will ring for the guard, and he will place you where you belong.”

As the guard approached the prisoner turned and looked in astonishment. The official also looked, and, describing the scene afterward, he said:

“I was raised from my chair. I do not know by what means. Then I began to feel dizzy and could not speak. I lost my power to see. I could feel someone near, and then I heard the voice of a woman saying: ‘You would sentence your brother to hard labor, to enable you to hold your own position? You, a child of the same mother and father? Have you no mercy on[75] him? My son, take this brother to your arms and let yourself be known to him. Look into this affair and see if he is not innocent. I will release you, and you do with your brother as you would have him do to you. These are the commands of the spirit of your mother.’

“I shall never forget the terrible strain I was in, and as I mumbled brokenly I felt a hand trembling, trying to help me to stand up, and I was given strength by the help of this hand.

“The guard asked for instructions as to where he should place this man—my brother, and I ordered him back to his cell.

“I was at a loss to know what to do. Must I confess—acknowledge him as my brother? or should I pretend to be ignorant of the fact which was plain to my mind? No one knew that he was my brother—not even the man himself knew it. Why should I acknowledge a criminal and a murderer? I could not!

“I thought: ‘I shall place him at once at hard labor. I shall call the guard and have him brought in. I shall try to be brave and not think of boyhood days, when he and I went hand in hand to the dear old school. And dear mother, how she caressed us as she said good-bye![76] I can hear those words ring............