Read Online Always: You'll Never Walk Alone by Keith Whiting - Free Book Online
Authors: Keith Whiting
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they?”
I thanked him and he said, “Tell me. Is there any truth to these accusations?”
“NO. I told you my parents and Vicky gave me the money. That Mortimer is a liar. He used that same excuse of temporarily not having any money when he arrived at the Fox weeks ago, and now he’s just trying to steal my money.”
“Alright, I had to ask. We’ll talk to the judge this afternoon. Don’t worry we’ll get you out of this. I’ll see you again later.” He squeezed my arm and the constable let him out, along with Willie, who didn’t want to go, and only left after a lot of complaining and a swift kick to the backside. I sat back down on the cold floor and stared at the small window high above, how was I going to get out of here? Would the judge believe me or Mr. Mortimer? How could I convince him without telling the whole story? If I told him the whole story, would he believe that? No, I couldn’t tell him about Sarah. Somehow, I’d just have to convince him I was telling the truth. I had to get out of here I was Sarah’s only chance. With these thoughts running through my head, I was interrupted by a constable, telling me it was time to see the judge. He led me out of the cell and back down the corridor we’d walked along last night.
The court was just a short walk through the town and as we climbed the steps to the courthouse, we ran into Mr. Mortimer. He looked at me briefly then went in ahead of us.
The town clock struck one as I was led to the prisoners dock. The judge entered, took his seat, and the court was called to order. My case was called first and the charges read out. Mr. Mortimer was the first witness. He repeated the accusation he’d made last night adding a few embellishments. He said he had felt some pressure against his pocket when I’d sat next to him on the coach but had thought nothing of it until later when he realized he’d been robbed. By that time it was too late, and it wasn’t until he saw me with his money at the coach stop that he made his accusation. The judge asked what I had to say in my defence. All I could say was that I didn’t do it, that my parents gave the money to me. He asked for any other witnesses. Jim, who I hadn’t noticed up to now, stood up and said he would like to say something. The judge asked if he had witnessed the theft. When he said that he hadn’t the judge told him to sit down. He tried to object but the judge said the constable would remove him if he didn’t sit down. Turning in my direction, he ordered me to stand.
“We only have your word against the word of a gentleman. I therefore have no choice but to find you guilty of theft. You are hereby sentenced to five years in the county jail.”
I stood there in shock, five years. FIVE YEARS? The constable took my arm, guided me out of the courtroom and into the street. As the cold air hit my face it shook me out of my stupor. The constable’s grip was not very tight and as we reached the bottom of the courthouse stairs two men arguing distracted his attention. Without thinking, I ripped my arm out of his grip and ran. I heard his shout behind me as I took the first street I came to. I ran blindly, slipping in the snow and ice but running, running, running. I don’t know where I went. I turned left then right then left then right until finally I reached the edge of town. I sank down against a tree, my heart pounding against my ribs, my breath coming in short spurts. Looking back there was no sign of anyone pursuing me. Scooping up a handful of snow, I ran it over my face and hair then sucked the cold fresh icicles into my mouth.
But, I didn’t dare stay any longer. As soon as I’d recovered my breath I took off along the long cold road ahead. I didn’t know which direction I was going. But it was away from Guildford and that’s all that mattered.
I kept running, stopping to catch my breath, then running again. As the afternoon wore on, I watched the sun going down in front of me, so I
I thanked him and he said, “Tell me. Is there any truth to these accusations?”
“NO. I told you my parents and Vicky gave me the money. That Mortimer is a liar. He used that same excuse of temporarily not having any money when he arrived at the Fox weeks ago, and now he’s just trying to steal my money.”
“Alright, I had to ask. We’ll talk to the judge this afternoon. Don’t worry we’ll get you out of this. I’ll see you again later.” He squeezed my arm and the constable let him out, along with Willie, who didn’t want to go, and only left after a lot of complaining and a swift kick to the backside. I sat back down on the cold floor and stared at the small window high above, how was I going to get out of here? Would the judge believe me or Mr. Mortimer? How could I convince him without telling the whole story? If I told him the whole story, would he believe that? No, I couldn’t tell him about Sarah. Somehow, I’d just have to convince him I was telling the truth. I had to get out of here I was Sarah’s only chance. With these thoughts running through my head, I was interrupted by a constable, telling me it was time to see the judge. He led me out of the cell and back down the corridor we’d walked along last night.
The court was just a short walk through the town and as we climbed the steps to the courthouse, we ran into Mr. Mortimer. He looked at me briefly then went in ahead of us.
The town clock struck one as I was led to the prisoners dock. The judge entered, took his seat, and the court was called to order. My case was called first and the charges read out. Mr. Mortimer was the first witness. He repeated the accusation he’d made last night adding a few embellishments. He said he had felt some pressure against his pocket when I’d sat next to him on the coach but had thought nothing of it until later when he realized he’d been robbed. By that time it was too late, and it wasn’t until he saw me with his money at the coach stop that he made his accusation. The judge asked what I had to say in my defence. All I could say was that I didn’t do it, that my parents gave the money to me. He asked for any other witnesses. Jim, who I hadn’t noticed up to now, stood up and said he would like to say something. The judge asked if he had witnessed the theft. When he said that he hadn’t the judge told him to sit down. He tried to object but the judge said the constable would remove him if he didn’t sit down. Turning in my direction, he ordered me to stand.
“We only have your word against the word of a gentleman. I therefore have no choice but to find you guilty of theft. You are hereby sentenced to five years in the county jail.”
I stood there in shock, five years. FIVE YEARS? The constable took my arm, guided me out of the courtroom and into the street. As the cold air hit my face it shook me out of my stupor. The constable’s grip was not very tight and as we reached the bottom of the courthouse stairs two men arguing distracted his attention. Without thinking, I ripped my arm out of his grip and ran. I heard his shout behind me as I took the first street I came to. I ran blindly, slipping in the snow and ice but running, running, running. I don’t know where I went. I turned left then right then left then right until finally I reached the edge of town. I sank down against a tree, my heart pounding against my ribs, my breath coming in short spurts. Looking back there was no sign of anyone pursuing me. Scooping up a handful of snow, I ran it over my face and hair then sucked the cold fresh icicles into my mouth.
But, I didn’t dare stay any longer. As soon as I’d recovered my breath I took off along the long cold road ahead. I didn’t know which direction I was going. But it was away from Guildford and that’s all that mattered.
I kept running, stopping to catch my breath, then running again. As the afternoon wore on, I watched the sun going down in front of me, so I
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