Willy Burke, or, The Irish orphan in America - Digital Repository ...

THE IRISH ORPHAN IN AMERICA. 165
" Ay", said Weimar, " can any one give de—de—what
you call dat ?— testimony against dis boy, for he goes to
prison dis very night, so sure as I live".
Being thus addressed, one of the lads, Henry Davis,
stepped forward and said, though with well- feigned reluct-
ance, that he had seen Willy Burke put a small parcel in
his pocket before he left the warehouse, though he could
not see what it contained.
" Was that the one you saw, Henry ?" asked Dawson,
coming suddenly forward, and taking a small parcel from
his pocket.
" I can't say ; it might have been".
" Because Willy Burke gave me this just before he went
out, when I met him at the door, and the gentlemen can
see for themselves what it contains". He opened it, and
laid on the table a small book : it was " The Grounds
of the Catholic Doctrine". " This is the parcel, Henry,
that you saw Willy Burke put in his pocket ; for he had
laid it aside on a shelf, until it was time to leave the ware-
house. And, gentlemen", he added, turning respectfully
to the merchants, " notwithstanding the apparent difficulty
in believing him innocent, I do venture to say that, in my
opinion, the poor lad is innocent of the crime laid to his
charge. I solemnly declare that I could scarcely be
brought to believe him guilty of even a much more trifling
misdemeanor. And if I had ten thousand dollars, I would
stake it on his innocence being established ".
" God reward you, Mr. Dawson", exclaimed Willy
Burke, " an' I hope you '11 never want a friend in your
hour of need ".
" Well, George", said Mr. Talbot, addressing Wilson,
" what have you to say in this matter ? for I see you have
been some time watching your opportunity to speak".