man
McBride's shed that night!"

"Do you mean to tell me that you perjured yourself in the North case?"
asked the judge sternly.

"Sure, I lied!" said the handy-man. "But Andy Gilmore was back of that
lie; it was him told me what I was to say, and it's him that kept
houndin' me, puttin' me up to say more than I ever agreed to!" He
slouched nearer the judge. "Boss, I chuck up the whole business; do you
understand? I want to take back all I said; I'm willin' to tell the God
A'mighty's truth!"

He paused abruptly. In his excitement he had forgotten what the truth
meant, what it would mean to the man before him. He was vaguely aware
that in abler hands than his own, this knowledge which he possessed
would have been molded into a terrible weapon, but he was impotent to
use it; with every advantage his, he felt only the desperate pass in
which he had placed himself. If Gilmore and Marshall Langham could
juggle with John North's life, what of his own life when the judge
should have become their ally!

"Me and you'll have to fix up what I got to say, boss!" he added with a
cunning grin.

"Do you mean you wish to make a statement to me?" asked the judge.

The handy-man nodded. The judge hesitated.

"Perhaps we would better send for Mr. Moxlow?" he suggested.

But Montgomery shook his head vehemently.

"I got nothin' to say to that man Moxlow!" he growled with sullen
determination.

"Very well, then, if you prefer to make your statement to me," and the
judge turned to his desk.

"Hold on, boss, we ain't ready for that just yet!" Joe objected. He was
sober enough, by this time.

"What is it you wish to tell me?"

And the judge resumed his former position on the hearth-rug.

"First you got to agree to get me out of this."

"I can agree to nothing," answered the judge quietly.

"I ain't smart, boss, but Joe Montgomery's old hide means a whole lot to
Joe Montgomery! You give me your word that I'll be safe, no matter what
happens!"

"I can promise you nothing," repeated the judge.

"Then what's the use of my tellin' you the truth?" demanded Montgomery.

"It has become the part of wisdom, since you have already admitted that
you have perjured yourself."

"Boss, if it wasn't John North I seen in the alley that day, who was
it?" and he strode close to the judge's side, dropping his voice to a
whisper.

"Perhaps the whole story was a lie."

The handy-man laughed and drew himself up aggressively.

"I'm a ma