His wrists were circled with handcuffs.
The President looked over his spectacles at the irons and spoke sharply:
"Take those things off him----"
The guard hesitated, and the high pitched voice rang with angry
authority:
"Take off those handcuffs, I tell you. His mother'll be here in a
minute--take 'em off!"
The guard quickly removed the manacles and the President turned to him
and his attendants:
"Clear out now. I'll call you when I want you."
Ned bowed:
"Thank you, sir."
"I hope I can do more than that for you, my boy. It all depends on
you----"
The mother's cry of joy stopped him short as she walked into the door.
With a bound she reached Ned's side, clasped him in her arms and kissed
him again and again with the low caressing words that only a mother's
lips can breathe. He loosened her hands tenderly:
"I'm glad you came, dear. It's all right. You mustn't worry. This is
war, you know."
"But we're going to save you, my darling. The President's going to
pardon you. I feel it--I know it. That's why he sent for you. God has
heard my prayer."
"I'm afraid you don't understand these things, dear," Ned replied
tenderly. "The President can't pardon me--no one understands that better
than I do----"
"But he will, darling! He will----"
Ned soothed her and turned to Betty.
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