The door swung open,
and the jailer stood there.
"Time's up," he said sharply.
"What, you're not going now? You're not going to leave us yet?" cried
Reuben, piteously.
Perez choked down the wrath and bitterness that was turning his heart
to iron and said, humbly.
"Mr. Bement, I should like to stay a few minutes longer. This is my
brother. I did not know he was here."
"Sorry for't," said Bement, carelessly. "Don' see as I kin help it,
though. S'posed like nuff he was somebuddy's brother. Mout's well be
your'n ez anybuddy's. I dunno who ye be. All I knows is that ye've
been here fifteen minutes and now ye must leave. Don' keep me waitin,
nuther. Thay ain' nobuddy tendin bar."
"Don't make him mad, Perez, or else he won't let ye come again,"
whispered Reuben, who saw that his brother was on the point of some
violent outburst. Perez controlled himself, and took his brother's
hands in his coming close up to him and looking away over his shoulder
so that he might not see the pitiful workings of his features which
would have negatived his words of comfort.
"Cheer up, Reub," he said huskily, "I'll get you out. I'll come for
you," and still holding his grief-wrung face averted, that Reuben
might not see it, he went forth, and Bement shut the door and barred
it.
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