over to make every one think he had gone over the
bluff and was dead, too, and he left his hat there and the other
things, and now he has come back to give himself up, just as he has
said, because he could not stand it to live any longer with the
thought on his conscience that he had killed Richard when he struck
him. But you would not let him give himself up. You have kept on
insisting he is Richard. And it is all your fault, Elder Craigmile,
because you won't look to see that he is your son." She paused,
panting, flushed and indignant.

"Miss Ballard, you are here as a witness," said the judge. "You must
restrain yourself and answer the questions that are asked you and make
no comments."

Here the Elder leaned forward and touched his attorney, and pointed a
shaking hand at the prisoner and said a few words, whereat the lawyer
turned sharply upon the witness.

"Miss Ballard, you have visited the prisoner since he has been in the
jail?"

"Yes, _I_ said so."

"Your Honor," said the examiner, "we all know that the son of the
plaintiff was lame, but this young man is sound on both his feet. You
have been told that Richard Kildene was struck on the head and this
young man bears the scar above his temple--"

Richard started forward, putting his hand to his head and lifting his
hair as he did so. He tried to call out, but in his excitement his
voice died in his throat, and Larry seized him and held him back.

"Watch him,--watch your uncle," he whispered in his ear. "He thinks he
has you there in the box and he wants you to get the worst the law
will give you. Watch him! The girl understands him. See her eyes upon
him. Stand still, boy; give him a chance to have his will. He'll find
it bitter when he learns the truth, and 'twill do him good. Wait, man!
You'll have it all in your hands later, and they'll be none the worse
for waiting a bit longer. Hold on for my sake, son. I'll tell you why
later, and you'll not be sorry you gave heed to me."

In these short ejaculated sentences, with his arm through Richard's,
Larry managed to keep him by his side as the examiner talked on.

"Your Honor, this young lady admits that she has visited the prisoner
in the jail, and can give adequate reason for her assertion that he is
the man he claims to be. She tells us what occurred in that fight on
the bluff--things that she was not there to see, things she could only
learn from the prisoner: is there not reason to believe that her