othing and food projects were there to feed on the
carcasses of the reputations presently to be destroyed.

Ken had little difficulty feeling sorry for Jed. His former teammate had
been a good sport in all Ken's experience of playing with him. He could
almost feel pity for Jed's father, too. On the stand, the banker looked
steadfastly at the floor as he answered questions in a dull, monotone
voice. He admitted the theft of the warehouse goods.

Judge Rankin asked severely, "Why, Mr. Tucker? Why did you think you had
any more right to hoard supplies than the rest of us?"

For the first time the banker looked up, and he met the judge's eyes.
"We were scared," he said simply. "We were scared of what is going to
happen this winter."

The judge's eyes flashed. "So you were scared?" he cried. "Don't you
think we're all scared?"

The banker shook his head and looked at the floor. "I don't know," he
said, as if in a daze. "We were just scared."

The lawyer, Allen, was more belligerent when he took the stand. "We
merely did what anyone else in this courtroom would do if he had the
chance, and thought of it first," he said. "Do with me what you like,
but before this winter is over, I'll see you self-righteous citizens of
Mayfield at each other's throats for a scrap of food."

He admitted the attack on Ken, but denied the intent to kill.

When Ken's turn came, he told his story as simply and as quickly as
possible, and when he had finished he said, "I'd like to add one more
word, if I may."

The judge nodded. "Go ahead, Ken."

He looked over the faces of the audience. "We've got troubles enough,"
he said slowly. "As much as we hate to admit it, the picture Mr. Allen
gives us may be right--unless we do what we can to stop it.

"We're wasting time and resources today. My father and I should be at
the laboratory. Every man and woman here is neglecting a job. We waste
time, deliberating about punishment for some of our neighbors who are
perhaps weaker, but certainly no more frightened than the rest of us. If
we lock them up in prison somebody has to watch out for them, and the
whole community is deprived of their useful labor.

"Why don't we just let them go?"

A gasp of surprise came from the spectators, but a slow illumination
seemed to light the face of Judge Rankin. His eyes moved from Ken to the
accused men and then to the audience.

"This court has just heard what it considers some very sound advice," he
said. "