"
"I have a witness at hand."
"W-w-what!"
"_Give me the word and I'll have the nippers on him before you can say
Jack Robinson_."
The detective, without rising to his feet or allowing himself to be seen,
uttered these words in such a sepulchral tone that they almost lifted the
hair on the head of the criminal. He started, and stared affrightedly back
in the gloom.
"What do you say?" asked the merchant.
"It's all right; it's all right. I'll send it to you as soon as I can get
back to the city. Don't be too hard on a fellow, Warmore. I declare"--
"Enough has been said. Now go!"
He went.
"You are too tender-hearted," remarked Detective Lathewood, when he and
Mr. Warmore were walking homeward.
"Perhaps I am; but mean as is the man, I shuddered at the thought of
disgracing and ruining him for life."
"But it was _he_, not _you_, who does that."
"True; I know that's the way you officers of the law look at it. But this
is not the first time I have had dealings with young men who have yielded
to temptation. I think it is safer to err on the side of charity than
that of sternness.
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