It ain't only because of my
former connection with the Sequin family,' sez I; 'it's because Mr.
Don Morley is a personal friend of mine. He's white an' he's square,'
sez I, 'an' the open-handedest young gent I ever done a favor for. If
it's a case of standin' by him in trouble, or losin' my job,' I sez,
'why ta-ta to the job!'"
"But when you left," urged Miss Lady, "what were they doing? How did
people feel about it?"
"Mighty shaky, mam. They ain't got a scrap of good evidence fer him,
an' enough ag'in him to sink a ship. Old man Wicker's son is puttin'
up a stiff fight, but he's up aginst Kinner, an' Kinner could convict
St. Peter hisself!"
"But can't they get the truth out of Sheeley? Can't they force him to
tell what happened?"
Phineas shrugged contemptuously: "Sheeley lost his memory when he lost
his eye. One was put out with lead, an' the other with silver. Says
now he wasn't in the fight at all."
"It's a lie! He wuz!" Chick had risen from his pillow, and was leaning
forward excitedly.
"What do you mean, Chick? How do you know?"
"He _wuz_ in the fight!" he cried huskily. "It was 'tween him an'
the drunk. Sheeley ketched him fakin' a ace, an' he calls Sheeley a
liar, an' they fit all over the floor.
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