Part 74 (2/2)

Troubled, the baby clung to his friend.

”I don't want Andy to go. I want 'im to come home,” insisted the child.

Kissing the little fellow pa.s.sionately, the dwarf gave him to Deforrest and turned to Tessibel. She took his hands firmly in her strong ones and looked earnestly into his face.

”Remember the hands stronger'n Waldstricker's,” she whispered. ”They'll bring you right back home, dear. They did Daddy Skinner, Andy, darling.”

Shaken by suppressed emotion, the little man sank to the floor.

”Oh, G.o.d help me to come back to ye!” he moaned dully.... ”G.o.d help me!”

A moment, Tess fought the uprus.h.i.+ng tears.

”You are coming back, Andy, remember that,” she said quickly. Then, she lifted her friend to his feet and kissed him.

”Here, sir,” she said to the officer, ”take him!”

Infected by Tessibel's faith, Andy ceased to weep. He flashed a last loving glance at her and the boy, and preceded the guard through the iron door into the prison.

Some time later, after what seemed an eternity of waiting, the warden came to Professor Young.

”The lady can see Bennet now,” he said.

Silently, an attendant conducted Tessibel through the long stone corridors to the prison hospital.

As she pa.s.sed, eager eyes watched her from the rows of cots against the wall. She was piloted to a bed near the end of the room.

”Here's your company, Bennet,” said the officer.

The figure on the bed turned and pain-ridden eyes peered up. Tess felt her throat throb with sympathy.

”What do ye want, miss?” growled a weak voice.

Tess smiled and bent over the bed. ”I want to talk to you,” she said.

”May I?”

Bennet's face softened immediately. He thought a beautiful angel had dropped from Heaven to the side of his prison bed.

”Yep,” he whispered, blinking at her. ”There air somethin' under the bed to set on, ma'am.”

Drawing forth a stool, Tess raised the lowered back and sat down.

In the presence of such misery, she had almost forgotten her little friend in the cell outside. Just then, she wanted to comfort Owen Bennet, to say something which would take away that writhing expression of suffering.

”You're very sick,” she murmured. ”Poor man, I'm sorry!”

Bennet kept his watery eyes on the pleading young face.

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