Our hero began to feel compassion for the foiled burglar.

He whispered in Watson's ear.

Watson hesitated, but finally yielded.
"Stranger," said he, "the boy wants me to let you go." "Does he ?" inquired Rafferty, in surprise.
"Yes.

He is afraid it will go hard with you if we give you up." "Likely it will," muttered Rafferty, watching Watson's face eagerly, to see whether he favored Joe's proposal.
"Suppose we let you go--will you promise not to make another attempt upon this place ?" "What do you take me for?
I'm not such a mean cuss as that." "One thing more--you won't kill this man that brought you here ?" "If I knowed it wasn't a trap he led me into.

He told me there was only the boy." "He thought so.