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JOURNAL OF JONATHON PAYTON, 5TH VISCOUNT WELLSWICK

1906

’Twas rab the boy’s wrist, but he saw us, taking off down the alley as fast as a cellar rat chased by a cat Isaac Bell and I raced after hied fron of the child

Isaac, certain he couldn’t have gone far in that ti ait, in his words, “for however long it takes”

We hunkered down near a refuse pile, the s as our senses dulled Isaac and I both wore heavy overcoats and gloves, protecting us frolimpse of his arm I’d seen at the shop told me that the patched sleeve of his threadbare coat was far too thin to offer much warmth

As the cold perh my heavy layers, I felt certain the childto death soest that we split up and begin a search, Isaac pointed to our left The child eed from an alcove across the street, where stairs led down to a base He hovered at the top of the stairs, edged his way out, raced ’round the corner Isaac and I followed as the boy ran toward the railroad tracks

—

“WE HAVE HIM,” Isaac said, bolting down the street

I could scarce keep up with the detective as he raced after the child, cornering him beneath the stairs of a factory about midway down the block

By the tiht up with them, I was completely out of breath “We

The boy cowered against the wall, his eyes ith fright, as he regarded us He lingered onaway from Isaac Suddenly he darted past me

Isaac was faster He grabbed the boy, lifting hi him out, as the urchin squirmed and kicked

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” the boy cried “You can have the bread I won’t do it again I won’t!”

“Hush,” Isaac said “We don’t care about the bread”