illy, who was the picture of shame and confusion, and then, in a clear,
distinct voice, which filled every corner of the room, told what he had
heard said in his presence, and what he knew of the transaction, proving
conclusively that the plaintiff was right and Peterkin a rascal, and
this in the face of the man who had asked him not to _blab_ and who
shook his fist at him threateningly as the narrative went on.

'Would you believe the defendant under oath?' was asked at the close,
and Harold answered, promptly:

'Under oath--yes.'

'Would you, if not under oath?'

'If an untruth would be to his advantage, no,' and then Harold was
through.

As he stepped down from the witness stand old Peterkin arose, so angry
that at first he could scarcely articulate his words.

'You dog! you liar! you thief! he screamed; 'to stand there and lie so
about me! I'll teach you--I'll show 'em what you are. If there's a
perlice here, I call on 'em to arrest this feller for them diamonds of
Miss Tracy's! They are in his pocket--or was last night. I seen 'em
myself, and he dassent deny it.'

By this time the court-house was in wild confusion, as the spectators
arose from their seats and pressed forward to where Peterkin stood
denouncing Harold, who was white as ashes, and looked as if he were
going to faint, as Billy hastened to his side, whispering:

'Lean on me, and I will get you out of this. Father is mad.'

But order was soon restored, though not until Peterkin had yelled again,
as Harold was leaving the room:

'Search him, I tell you! Don't let him escape! He's got 'em in his
pocket--Miss Tracy's diamonds! Lord of heavens! don't you remember the
row there was about 'em years ago?'

Of what followed during the next hour Harold knew very little. There
was a crowd around him, and cries of 'He is going to faint!' while
Billy's stammering voice called pleadingly, 'St-stand back, ca-can't
you, and gi-give him air.'

Then, a deluge of water in his face; then a great darkness and the
voices sounded a long way off, and he felt so tired and sleepy, and
thought of Jerry, and Maude, and lived over again the scene in the
Tramp-House, when he found the former in the bag, and felt her little
fat arms around his neck as he staggered with her through the snow,
wondering why she was so heavy, and why her feet were dragging on the
ground. When he came more fully to himself, he was in a little room in
the court-house, and Billy's arm was lyi