advertisements for Craven Kyte.

And what complicated this part of the case still more was the
circumstance that Mr. Bastiennello, the senior partner of the firm in
which poor Craven Kyte was once the youngest "Co.," was absent in
Europe, where he had been on a visit to his relations for the last two
months, so that he could not be consulted as to the probable whereabouts
of his former partner.

Meanwhile Mr. Lyle and his young bride Laura did all that they possibly
could to comfort and cheer their unfortunate brother and sister.

One or the other of them went every day to Blue Cliffs to carry to Emma
the encouraging news of Alden's continued good health and spirits, and
to bring back to him the glad tidings of Emma's heroic patience and
cheerfulness.

And in this manner the tedious weeks passed slowly away and brought the
day of the trial.

CHAPTER XLVIII.

THE TRIAL.

It was a glorious morning in June. All nature seemed exulting in the
young summer's splendor.

And any stranger arriving at the town of Wendover that day would have
supposed that the population of the whole surrounding country were
taking advantage of the delightful weather to hold a gay festival there.

The whole town was full of visitors, come to the great trial.

Mr. Hezekiah Greenfield, of the Reindeer Hotel, was beside himself under
the unusual press of business, and his waiters and hostlers were nearly
crazy amid the confusion of arrivals and the conflicting claims made all
at once upon their attention and services.

The scene around the court-house was even more tumultuous.

The court-house was a plain, oblong, two-story edifice, built of the red
stone that abounded in the mountain quarries of that district. It stood
in a large yard shaded with many trees and surrounded by a high stone
wall.

In the rear end of this yard stood the county prison.

The court-yard was filled with curious people, who were pressing toward
the doors of the court-house, trying to effect an entrance into the
building, which was already crammed to suffocation.

In the minister's cottage parlor, at the same early hour, were assembled
the Rev. Mr. Lyle, honest John Lytton and his shock-headed son, Charley,
Joseph Brent, Alden Lytton, and his counsel, Messrs. Berners and Denham.

John Lytton had arrived only that morning. And on meeting his nephew had
taken him by both hands, exclaiming:

"You know, Aldy, my boy, as I told you before, I don't bel