DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22217#0058
46
THE STREET PORTERS SON.
There could be little doubt of his sincerity now, for his
whole heart was in his eyes, and he had broken down pitifully
as he spoke. I now dimly understood the case, for it was not
the first by many dozens which had come in my way.
" Tell me all you know, and I will do what I can for you,
though I can promise nothing," I said, thinking that the son
might be involved more than the father was aware.
" I'm content with that, sur," he gratefully responded, " for
I hear there's thaves that think your word surer than the bank.
But it's not much I do know. There's an empty place in the
court down there where Micky lives. It used to be a coal-
house, but nobody uses it now, and the roofs nigh dropping to
pieces. Well, I believe if you go to that place and get the
door open, and dig up the dross, you'll find a good deal of
what was tuck out of the grocer's. I think Micky did the job,
but anyhow he has a key that opens that place, and nobody
but him ever gets a finger near the stuff."
"How did you find out all that?" I promptly demanded.
" Did your son tell you ?"
" Him tell me ? Do you think Pat 'ud betray any one, even a
black-hearted villain like Micky Hill? No, he's too honourable,
though Micky, I'll swear, wouldn't have any such scruples.
Must I tell you how I found it out?"
" You'd better, if only to save your own character, and take
all suspicion away from yourself."
"Well, then/his sister Annie heard him speak it all in his
sleep."
I whistled aloud, and the glance I turned on the trembling
old man was one more of pity than pleasure. Before the son
could have been so full of the knowledge as to be oppressed
by it in his dreams, he must have been very deeply involved—
probably one of the actual perpetrators—and in that case how
could I possibly save him ? At the moment I heartily wished
that the old man had never come near me. If only he and
Micky were in the job, and I nipped up the elder rogue, I
knew for certain that he would at once suspect treachery,
denounce Pat, and put proof in our hands as well. And then
another difficulty immediately occurred to me—even if we
searched the cellar and found there the stolen goods, how
would that bring conviction on Micky ? He had not the shed
rented, but had cunningly taken possession unknown to any
one, and probably entered it only by night when no one was
likely to see him. Altogether the case seemed a knotty pro-
THE STREET PORTERS SON.
There could be little doubt of his sincerity now, for his
whole heart was in his eyes, and he had broken down pitifully
as he spoke. I now dimly understood the case, for it was not
the first by many dozens which had come in my way.
" Tell me all you know, and I will do what I can for you,
though I can promise nothing," I said, thinking that the son
might be involved more than the father was aware.
" I'm content with that, sur," he gratefully responded, " for
I hear there's thaves that think your word surer than the bank.
But it's not much I do know. There's an empty place in the
court down there where Micky lives. It used to be a coal-
house, but nobody uses it now, and the roofs nigh dropping to
pieces. Well, I believe if you go to that place and get the
door open, and dig up the dross, you'll find a good deal of
what was tuck out of the grocer's. I think Micky did the job,
but anyhow he has a key that opens that place, and nobody
but him ever gets a finger near the stuff."
"How did you find out all that?" I promptly demanded.
" Did your son tell you ?"
" Him tell me ? Do you think Pat 'ud betray any one, even a
black-hearted villain like Micky Hill? No, he's too honourable,
though Micky, I'll swear, wouldn't have any such scruples.
Must I tell you how I found it out?"
" You'd better, if only to save your own character, and take
all suspicion away from yourself."
"Well, then/his sister Annie heard him speak it all in his
sleep."
I whistled aloud, and the glance I turned on the trembling
old man was one more of pity than pleasure. Before the son
could have been so full of the knowledge as to be oppressed
by it in his dreams, he must have been very deeply involved—
probably one of the actual perpetrators—and in that case how
could I possibly save him ? At the moment I heartily wished
that the old man had never come near me. If only he and
Micky were in the job, and I nipped up the elder rogue, I
knew for certain that he would at once suspect treachery,
denounce Pat, and put proof in our hands as well. And then
another difficulty immediately occurred to me—even if we
searched the cellar and found there the stolen goods, how
would that bring conviction on Micky ? He had not the shed
rented, but had cunningly taken possession unknown to any
one, and probably entered it only by night when no one was
likely to see him. Altogether the case seemed a knotty pro-