n as can do damage--I got to be treated right, or by the Lord
I'll _do_ damage! I been badgered and hounded by Marsh and Andy Gilmore
till I'm fair crazy. They got to take their hands off me and leave me
loose, for I won't hang no man on their say-so! John North never done me
no harm, I got nothing agin him!"

"You have admitted that your whole story of seeing John North on the
night of the McBride murder is a lie," said the judge.

"Boss, there is truth enough in it to hang a man!"

"You saw a man cross McBride's sheds?"

And the judge kept his eyes fastened on the handy-man's face.

"I seen a man cross McBride's shed, boss."

"And you have sworn that that man was John North."

"I swore to a lie. Boss, we got to fix it this way: I seen a man come
over the roof and drop into the alley; I swore it was John North, but I
never meant to swear to that; the most I promised Andy was that I'd say
I thought it _looked_ like John North, but them infernal lawyers got
after me, and the first thing I knowed I'd said it _was_ John North!"

"Your story is absurd!" exclaimed the judge, with a show of anger.

The handy-man raised his right hand dramatically.

"It's God A'mighty's everlastin' truth!" he swore.

"Understand, I have made you no promises," said the judge, disregarding
him.

"You're goin' back on me!" cried Montgomery. "Then you look out. I'm a
man as can do harm if I have a mind to; don't you give me the mind,
boss!"

"I shall lay this matter before Mr. Moxlow in the morning," replied the
judge quietly and with apparent indifference, but covertly he was
watching the effect of his words on Montgomery.

"And then they'll be after me!" cried the handy-man.

"Very likely," said the judge placidly.

Montgomery glanced about as though he half expected to see Gilmore rise
up out of some shadowy corner.

"Boss, do you want to know who it was I seen come over old man McBride's
shed? Do you want to know why Andy and Marsh are so set agin my goin'
home to my old woman? Why they give me money? It's a pity I ain't a
smarter man! I'd own 'em, both body and soul!"

"Man, you are mad!" cried the judge.

But this man who was usually austere and always unafraid, was feeling a
strange terror of the debased and slouching figure before him.

"Do you reckon you're man enough to hear what I got in me to tell?"
asked Montgomery, again raising his right hand high above his head as if
he called on Heaven to witness the truth