"Were you with him last night?"
"No. We were----"
"Don't talk to me, then! Black Harry or not, he shot my father!"
"But--but--why, he would not do such a thing!"
"He did!"
It seemed that nothing could shake her belief.
"Av yez plaze, miss," said Barney, lifting his hat, and bowing politely,
"it's thot same b'y Oi have known a long toime. Oi went ter school with
thot lad, an' a whoiter b'y nivver drew a breath. He'd foight fer ye
till he died, av he didn't git killed, an' it's nivver would he shoot
anybody at all, at all, onless it wur in silf-definse. Oi give ye me
wurrud thot is th' truth, th' whole truth, an' nothing but th' truth."
The girl was unmoved.
"I have sworn to avenge my poor father!" she declared. "He shall not
escape!"
"It is useless to talk here," said Frank. "She believes she is right,
and her mind will not be changed till she sees the real Black Harry at
my side. It must be that the fellow is my double, and so my life will be
in peril till he is captured, and meets his just deserts. From this time
on for me it is a fight for life and honor."
CHAPTER V.
HURRIED TO JAIL.
At this moment another wild roar rose outside the station, telling that
something had again aroused the mob:
Hank Kildare was in the doorway, blocking it with his gigantic form, his
long-barreled revolvers holding the crowd at bay, while he hoarsely
cried:
"You galoots know me! Ef yer crowd me, some o' yer will take his
everlastin' dose o' lead!"
They dared not crowd him. He could hold them back at that point, but
there were other ways of reaching the interior of the waiting-room,
where the prisoner was.
"Ther back door!" howled a voice. "We kin git at him thet way!"
"Hear that?" fluttered Professor Scotch. "They're coming, Frank! We must
get out before they get in that way! Quick!"
He caught hold of the boy, and started to urge him toward the rear door;
but Lona Dawson placed herself squarely in their path, flinging up one
hand.
"Stop!" she cried, her eyes flashing. "You cannot pass! You shall not
escape!"
A look of admiration came into Frank's eyes, for she was very beautiful
at that moment.
"As you will," he bowed, gallantly. "I may get my neck stretched by
remaining, but your wish is law."
"Well, I like that!" roared the professor, in a manner that plainly
indicated he did not like it.
"Av ye choose ter make a fool av yersilf, Frank, it's not yer friends
thot will see
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