er his
face again.

"It wouldn't take much of a library, Colonel Price, to have a great many
books in it that I've never read," said he. "I haven't been easy enough
in my mind since this thing came up to think about reading--I've got a
book in my pocket that I'd forgotten all about until you mentioned
books." He lifted the skirt of his short coat, his pocket bulging from
the volume wedged into it. "I'll have a job getting it out, too," said
he.

"It don't seem to be a very heavy volume," smiled the colonel. "What
work is it?"

"It's the Book," said Joe.

Colonel Price laid his hand on the lad's shoulder and looked him
straight in the face.

"Then you've got by you the sum and substance of all knowledge, and the
beginning and the end of all philosophy," said he. "With that work in
your hand you need no other, for it's the father of all books."

"I've thought that way about it myself sometimes," said Joe, as easy and
confident in his manner with the colonel, who represented a world to
which he was a stranger from actual contact, as a good swimmer in water
beyond his depth.

"But if you happen to be coming over this way in a day or two you might
stop in if it wouldn't trouble you, and I could name over to you a few
books that I've been wanting to read for a long time."

"I intend to lighten your brief period of confinement as much as it is
in my power to do," declared the colonel, "and I can speak for my
daughter when I say that she will share my anxiety to make you as
comfortable as human hands can make you in this place, Joe. We'll come
over and cheer you every little while."

Mrs. Newbolt had sat by, like one who had been left behind at a
way-station by an express-train, while the colonel and Joe had talked.
They had gone beyond her limited powers; there was nothing for her to do
but wait for them to come back. Now the colonel had reached her point of
contact again.

"You'll be rewarded for your kindness to the widow's son," said she,
nodding her head earnestly, tears shining in her eyes.

When he was leaving, Colonel Price felt that he must make one more
effort to induce Joe to discharge Hammer and put his case into the hands
of a more competent man. Joe was firm in his determination to give
Hammer a chance. He was a little sensitive on the matter under the rind,
the colonel could see.

"If I was to hire the best lawyer I could find, Colonel Price, people
would say then that I was guilty, sure enough,"