none,'
says Rita, says she, jes' that-a-way, and D-Dic he p-puts in and says,
says 'ee, 'I-I g-guess not,' says 'ee, jes' that-a-way. Then Doug he-he
puts his gun agin' a gum tree and g-grabs Rita about the wa-waist,
hugging her up to him ti-tight-like. Then he-he push her head back-like,
so's 'ee c-could get at her mouth, and then Dic he-he ups and knocks him
d-down. Then D-Doug he-he gets up quick-like and they clinches and
falls, and D-Doug on top. Then Doug he-he says, says 'ee to me, 'G-Give
me your n-knife, Patsy,' jes' that-a-way, and I ups and gives him my
knife, but he d-drops it and some way D-Dic he throws Doug o-off and
gets up, and Doug he picks up the knife and st-starts for Dic, lookin'
wilder 'en hell. Jes' then Rita she ups with D-Doug's gun and shoots him
right through. He-he trembled-like for a minute and his knees shuk and
he shivered all over and turned white about the mouth like he was awful
sick, and then he d-dropped on his face, shot through and through."

The confusion in the courtroom had been growing since the beginning of
Patsy's story, and by the time he had finished it broke into an uproar.
The judge called "Order," and the sheriff rose to quiet the audience.

_State's Attorney._--"Do you mean to say, Mr. Clark, that Rita Bays
fired the shot that wounded Douglas Hill?"

Douglas, you remember, had just sworn that Dic fired the shot.

_Answer._--"Yes, sir, you betch yur life that's jes' the way w-w-what I
mean to say."

_State's Attorney._--"Now, Mr. Clark, I'll ask you if you did not tell
me and many other citizens of this community that the defendant, Dic
Bright, fired the shot?"

"I object," cried Mr. Switzer. "The gentleman cannot impeach his own
witness."

"You are right, Mr. Switzer," answered the Court, "unless on the ground
of surprise; but I overrule your objection. Proceed, Mr. State's
Attorney."

"Answer my question," said that official to Patsy.

_Answer._--"Yes, sir, I-I d-did tell you, and lots of other folks, too,
that D-Dic shot Doug Hill."

Question.--"Then, sir, how do you reconcile those statements with the
one you have just made?"

Answer.--"Don't try to re-re-re-reconcile 'em. Can't. I-I wa-wa-was
talkin' then. I'm sw-sw-swearin' now."

Dic sprang to his feet, exclaiming:--

"If the Court please, I wish to enter a plea of guilty to the charge
against me."

"Your plea will not be accepted," answered the Court. "I am beginning to
see the cause for the d