ll and Patsy Clark were the only witnesses for the State. The
defendant had summoned no witnesses, and Dic's fate rested in the hands
of his enemy and his enemy's henchman.

Patsy and Doug had each done a great deal of talking, and time and again
had asserted that Dic had deliberately shot Doug Hill after the fight
was over. Mr. Switzer's only hope seemed to be to clear Dic on
cross-examination of Doug and Patsy.

"Not one lie in a hundred can survive a hot cross-examination," he said.
"If a woman is testifying for the man she loves, or for her child, she
will carry the lie through to the end without faltering. Every instinct
of her nature comes to her help; but a man sooner or later bungles a lie
if you make him angry and keep at him."

Doug was the first witness called. He testified that after the fight was
over Dic snatched up the gun and said, "I'm going to kill you;" that he
then fired the shot, and that afterward Doug remembered nothing. The
story, being simple, was easily maintained, and Mr. Switzer's
cross-examination failed to weaken the evidence. Should Patsy Clark
cling to the same story as successfully, the future looked dark for Dic.

When Doug left the stand at noon recess, Billy rode up to see Rita, and
in the course of their conversation the girl discovered his fears.
Billy's dark forebodings did not affect her as he supposed they would.
He had expected tears and grief, but instead he found a strange,
unconcerned calmness that surprised and puzzled him. Soon after Billy's
departure Rita saddled her horse and rode after him. Mrs. Bays forbade
her going, but for the first time in her life the girl sullenly refused
to answer her mother, and rode away in dire rebellion.

Court convened at one o'clock, and Patsy Clark was called to the stand.
The State's attorney began his examination-in-chief:--

_Question._--"State your name."

_Answer by Patsy._--"Sh-shucks, ye know my name."

"State your name," ordered the Court.

_Answer._--"Pa-Pa-Patsy C-Clark."

_Question by State's Attorney._--"Where do you live?"

_Answer._--"North of t-t-town, with D-Doug Hill's father."

_Question._--"Where were you, Mr. Clark, on fifth day of last month at
or near the hour of three o'clock P.M.?"

_Answer._--"Don't know the day, b-but if you mean the d-day Doug and
D-Dic had their fight, I-I was up on B-Blue about halfway b-between Dic
Bright's house and T-Tom Bays', at the step-off."

_Question._--"What, if anythi