"Aw saw it," sed one, "aw wor standin cloise to him when th' ladder
smashed an threw him onto th' shaft. His smock wor catched in a second,
an he wor whirled raand an raand until th' engine wor stopt, and then he
dropt to th' graand battered to bits."

"Its ten thaasand pities," sed another, "an aw connot help thinkin
ther's been some foul play somewhear. Who can ha takken th' brokken
ladder away? That ladder should be examined. Somdy may ha been foolin wi
it."

"It does seem strange," said several, "but mooast likely it'll turn up."

They soon began to scatter, and Dick went homewards. The ladder! Who
could have taken the ladder? The tell tale ladder, that bore the
evidence of his guilt.

Arrived at home, he shut himself in his room and there he sat through
what appeared to him an eternity of night. He felt no desire to sleep.
Early in the morning found him again at the Infirmary. He questioned a
nurse who was passing.

"He is quite conscious now, but he cannot hold out many hours. It is
better he should die, than live a helpless cripple all the rest of his
days."

"Aw mun see him," he sed, "Do let me see him."

"That cannot be without the doctor's permission," she said, but seeing
the frantic grief of the man, she went and brought the doctor's consent.