The police'll
be there waitin' for you, 'cos I told 'em you was comin'. I didn't want
you to be a thief, David; I done it for your sake. Oh, David, David!"
David's face was livid and his clenched fist was raised to strike, but
Patsy and his crutches lay in a little huddled heap at David's feet.
When the child opened his eyes again, the men were gone and he and his
brother were alone. He looked into the face bending above him and gave a
sigh of relief. All the anger was gone, only anxious solicitude rested
there. Patsy tried to speak, but his voice was so weak and low that
David had difficulty in understanding what he said. He leaned over to
catch the faintly whispered words:
"You ain't mad at me now, are you, Davy? I'm so glad. I'd hate to go
away thinkin' you was mad at me. I had to do it, Davy, I had to tell;
there wasn't no other way to keep you from being a thief. I'm sorry to
leave you alone, Davy, but I guess mother wants me in Heaven. You know
the doctor said I'd be going soon anyway. Mother said she'd be waitin'
for you and me and I guess she wants me now. I'm sorry to leave you, but
I'm afeared I must go. It'll be lonesome for you when I'm gone. You'll
have no one to light the lamp and make the tea for you in the evenings.
You'll come home here at night and it'll be all dark and lonely with no
Patsy to meet you.
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