This Is My Affair Page #7

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Oh well, go ahead,

but you're wasting your time.

Thank you sir.

May I have an envelope?

Hey, Tim!

- Any word for me?

- No... not a thing.

Are you positive? There ought to be

a message here by now.

I'll let you know

as soon as there is.

I'd sure be glad

to get out of this place.

I guess you would.

Hey Tim!

Did you hear about President McKinley?

McKinley!?

I knew it'd come.

Let me have it!

No... what?

He just got shot, a couple of hours ago...

up in Buffalo.

Well, what do you know

about that!

The assassin was in line with a whole lot of others

shaking hands with the president.

Had his arm all bound up

like it was broke... but it wasn't.

That's where he had his gun,

wrapped in a handkerchief.

They got the fellow whoever he was.

They don't know about the president yet.

All I know he was shot twice,

right through the stomach.

Any news about the president?

The papers say he's taken a turn

for the better.

I sure hope he has.

What is it? Any news?

The president is dead.

Lil!

Oh Lil... I thought I told you

to stay away from here.

I had to come... I had to see you.

I don't want you mixed up

in this.

What do I care!

Tomorrow I'll die too.

Isn't there a chance...

isn't there anything we can do?

There might be.

I'll do anything... you know that!

But... first there's something

I've got to tell you.

You'll probably hate me for this...

but I've got to tell you anyhow.

How could I ever hate you?

Then try to understand this.

My name's not Joe Patrick,

it's Richard Perry.

A lot of people change their names!

I know, but that was all a lie about

my getting into trouble in Cheyenne

and having to hide out.

I've never been to Cheyenne

in my life.

Joe...

What are you trying to tell me?

That I'm not any of the things

you think I am.

I was a lieutenant in the Navy.

President McKinley sent me to find out

who was robbing those banks.

I feigned it so Bat'd find those

banknotes on me.

I staged the jewellery hold-up

just to get in good with him.

I understand.

And part of the frame-up

was pretending you loved me.

It's not true... I DO love you!

At first maybe I tried not to...

but I do.

You lied once... how do I know

you aren't still lying.

Darling, you've got to believe me!

You used me to get Bat and Jock.

No, it wasn't Bat and Jock so much...

It was the man behind them.

Well, don't you know

who he is yet?

Yes, I know.

Then what are you doing here?

Why don't your friends

get you out?

Nobody knew about this,

but me and President McKinley.

Maybe there is some justice

after all.

If I could get word to Admiral Dewey,

he might help.

The warden won't let me

get in touch with him...

He thinks I'm crazy.

Says my story is just a trick,

to get a reprieve.

What do you want

to tell Admiral Dewey?

The whole story...

and I can prove it too...

by the message I sent to the president...

but he was shot.

See this?

That's it.

That mark on the lower right hand corner

of the envelope.

And you think

I might help you?

You still think

you can use me again?

Well, that's great.

Why you low down

contemptible stool-pigeon!

I'm glad they're going to hang you!

Guard! Open this door...

let me out of here!

And if I can work it, I'll be there

to see them put the rope around your neck!

Take your hands offa me!

Now let's see you lie your way

out of this!

What will it be?

Driars straight.

I'm as good a newspaperman

as any of you.

Would they let ME go

to the hanging?

No... but who said I was going.

Do you think I could get a ticket?

I'll be lucky if they let me

cover the funeral.

I got one! I got one!

- What?

- A pass to the hanging. Look!

I'll give you $10 for it.

$10?... say... I wouldn't take $100

This is the first double-header

in 15 years.

You're not going to see him hang!

Nobody's going to see him hang!

Take me to the railroad station

as fast as you can.

Yes ma'am!

It's incredible... unbelievable.

Please, you've GOT to believe it!

Alright, let him come in.

Here she is, officer.

I'm sorry, it's necessary

to put you under arrest.

You may be telling the truth.

But then again it may be a trick

to get those men out of jail.

I can't take any chances.

Notify President Roosevelt

we're on our way.

Yes sir!

Mr President... This is the young woman

I told you about on the telephone.

I would like you to hear her story.

Be seated, please.

Go right ahead Miss Duryea.

- Hello, Father.

- Is there anything I can do for you?

Some request you'd like to make?

Yes, Father, just one request.

What is it?

Give me a gun and 5 minutes

outside of here...

I've got a few last-minute jobs

I've got to attend to.

Think what you're saying!

In a little while you'll be going

to meet your maker.

Maybe I am and maybe I ain't.

The only thing that's worrying me...

is leaving that low-down

dirty scum behind in this world.

Grant Thou that this poor erring mortal

may see the truth before it is too late.

Sit down, Father.

I want to show you something.

Pick a card.

Any one at all.

Put it back in the pack.

Now shuffle them.

Go through all the mail that's come for

President McKinley in the past 2 weeks

And see if you can find a letter with this mark

on the lower right hand corner of the envelope.

Get all the help you need.

If you find it bring it to me immediately

Oh good and merciful God who according to Thy mercy

and loving kindness forgiveth the sins of such as repent...

and graciously remits the guilt

of their past offences...

mercifully regard this Thy servant

by granting full remission of his sins...

Is this the one you meant,

Mr President.

Do you recognise the handwriting?

Yes, that's it!

Put me through to George Andrews,

President McKinley's secretary.

I believe he's still in Buffalo.

This is Andrews speaking.

Yes, Mr President.

Do you know anything about a letter with a secret mark

on it, that Mr McKinley was expecting?

Secret mark...?

No... not that I remember.

You're quite sure of that?

Well I guess there's nothing to it.

Sorry to have bothered you.

Young woman, you almost got away with it,

but you didn't.

And I intend to make

an example of you!

Officer!

But it's the truth... I swear it is!

You can't let him hang!

Take this woman out

and keep her under arrest!

You can't do this... please!

You must believe me!

Come on, young lady.

I'm sorry, Mr President, I should have realised

that this was simply a desperate scheme

It's alright, Dewey.

Hello...

What's that?

It all comes back to me, now.

Mr McKinley telling me that if this mark

should be found on any of his mail...

and he was unavailable...

I should go to his safe

and find explanation among his papers.

Thanks, Andrews, that's all.

Have them bring

that young lady back!

It was Andrews... he remembered

about that secret mark.

Get me the warden of the state penitentiary

in Baltimore.

I'll hold the line.

Young lady, this is one time when the President

of the United States will have to apologise.

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