Francis Worcester Doughty

“ The door was banged shut, and Shadow was left to his own reflections in the cramped confines of the dark and moldy-smelling closet.
He was left here until all danger of a raid was thought by the proprietor to be past.
Then he was brought out.
"What did you mean by smashing the lamps and putting them out?" was sternly demanded of him.
Shadow looked vacantly at them.
"Come, come!" and he was given a cuff alongside of his head. "Come, give us an answer, or I'll 'liven you up with something heavier than my hand." ”

“ By the fluttering blaze of the burning, oil-soaked clothing of the persons on fire, I saw which way to go; and I had nearly reached the door, when some one cried:
"Be careful, boys! Look out for the door; don't let him escape!" ”

“ Then they scrutinized Shadow closely, and tried to intimidate him by saying they did not believe it. But when they wrote this on paper, Shadow only shrugged his shoulders on reading it.
Then they discussed the advisability of letting him go or putting him out of the way.
"There's no good in killing him, as I can see," one said finally. "It might easily be a bad thing, for there's no tellin' who may show up here afore the body could be got rid of," and in this view all at last concurred.
Shadow was led to the door and pointed out. He hastily gained the street—and disappeared. ”