“That is the first time I have seen you break down.”

“Yes, Pearson, I am heart-broken. I shall never forget Pat, not for the sickness he feigned, but for the feeling that came over me when he was praying. I have never prayed, but I am going to this day. And the very next Sabbath I am going to start a prayer-meeting in this prison. If it helps all as much as it did Pat, I will feel repaid for all these mysterious voices and visions which we have heard and seen here. Besides, it may lift up many a sad heart inside these walls, that could get no help except through prayer.”

“You locked the door as you left the office, did you?”

“Only the outside door.”

“I see bundles in there. They belong to Pat. He has not gone.”

“Take a look into the room next the office, Pearson.”

“Oh, my God!”

[245]

“What? suicide?”

“No; praying.”

“Pearson, close the door.”

“I am after being through and I feel better. I have been praying to me Father to help me find another job, or to get this one back for me.”

“Pat, your prayer is answered, once again. You may remain and do as you have done. Outside of this little trouble, you have been a good, faithful man, and I feel that you and Officer Pearson will from this day on be faithful to the trust which is imposed in you, and that you will show brotherly love and kindness toward each other and all your fellow-men. I want you to be sure to be at prayer-meeting Sunday morning, and open the meeting with prayer.

“I shall expect you, Pearson, to close the meeting with prayer. I will take a hand at it myself, and I hope that we may hear the voices of all in this prison, asking for help and guidance and peace.

“Now, Pat, see that all is right.

“Well, Pearson, I am glad to see you sitting there under different circumstances, and I hope this will be a lesson for us all. Honesty is always the best policy. If you follow that precept,[246] you will never get into trouble,” said the superintendent, addressing Mr. Pearson.

“Well, here is one good Irishman the rest of me life, and I will be after being a Sunday-school teacher; I think that would bate being a gentleman anny time. And now I’ll see if the officer has not forgot to put the poor man that was brought in to work. Forgot? I know he did. I’ll be after going and asking where will I take the poor fellow to work, and I’ll ask mercy for him, for it means a job for life with him, poor fellow. I am after passing the knowledge-seat. I will walk in and tell me business at once. I got enough knowledge to do me at that resting-place.

“What do I see? The poor fellow that was turned out of here sitting in the office? I will pretend not to know him, and make my business be known and lave at once.

“Officer!”

“Yes. What is it, Pat?”

“You have been after forgetting to give the poor man his life job.”

“So I have, Pat. I will find a place in a trade where he will not have to toil so hard, for it means a long time for him. I will take care of that Monday morning, Pat. Don’t[247] bother him. Let him get used to his new ............