remarkable promptitude and the exercise of the marvellous properties
ascribed impartially to the worm, the eel, and the snake, Bobby and
Johnny succeeded in gaining a place in the court-room for the afternoon
session. It was not a very good place. Breast-high in front of them was
a rail. Behind them pressed a suffocating crowd. On the other side of
the rail were many benches on which was seated another crowd. This
second multitude concealed utterly whatever occupied the floor of the
court-room. Only when one or another of the actors in the proceedings
arose to his feet could the boys make out a head and shoulders. They
could see the massive walnut desk and the judge, however; and the lower
flat tables at which sat the recording officials. And on the blank white
wall ticked solemnly a big round clock. The second-hand moved forward by
a series of swift jerks, but watch as he would Bobby could see no
perceptible motion of the other two hands. In the monotony of some of
the proceedings this bland clock fascinated him.

Likewise the living wall before him caught and held his half-suffocated
interest--the slope of their shoulders, the material of their coats, the
shape of their heads, the cut of their hair. One by one he passed them
in review. Two seats ahead sat a thickset man with very long, oily black
hair. He turned his head. Bobby recognized the man who had found
Pritchard's body. He nudged Johnny, calling attention to the fact.

The prosecuting attorney was on his feet making a speech. It was
interesting enough at first, but after a time Bobby's attention
wandered. The prosecuting attorney was a young man, ambitious, and ego
was certainly a large proportion of _his_ cosmos. Bobby listened to him
while he spoke of the obvious motive for the deed; but when he began
again, and in detail, to go over the evidence already adduced, Bobby
ceased to listen. Only the monotonous cadences of the voice went on and
on. The clock tick-tocked. People breathed. It reminded him of church.

A little stir brought him back from final drowsiness. A man in the row
ahead of him wanted to get out. The disturber carried an overcoat over
his left arm, and it amused Bobby vastly to see the stiff collar of that
overcoat rumple the back hair of those who sat in the second row. As he
watched, it caught the long oily locks of the witness for the
prosecution. With a fierce exclamation the man turned, scowling at the
other's whispered excuse. When he