deal, and tried to be saucy to the
lawyer. His statements were so contradictory at times, that a general
disposition to laugh pervaded the minds of the audience. At these
times, when he so grossly crossed himself, Squire Benson looked
significantly at the jury, as though to invite their special attention
to the discrepancies.

Tony's counsel then opened the case for the defence. His address was
very short, but very pointed and forcible.

The first witness was Mr. Doolittle, the store-keeper, who testified to
the facts concerning the twenty dollar bill.

"Is that the bill you marked?" asked the lawyer, handing him a
bank-note.

"It is," replied the witness, after examining it.

"You are willing to swear that is the bill?"

"I am."

"Please state to the court and jury the means by which you identify
it."

The witness exhibited his shop-card upon the back of it, and pointed
out several other peculiarities which he had observed while stamping
it.

"Mr. Stevens," said the lawyer. "That will do, Mr. Doolittle."

The person called took the stand. He was a stranger in Rippleton, and
the audience wondered what he could possibly know about it.

"Your business, Mr. Stevens?" continued the lawyer, scratching
furiously with his pen.

"I keep a hardware store in Boston."

"Did you ever see this bill?" and Squire Benson handed him the
bank-note.

"I have."

"State, if you please, what you know about it."

"It was given to me in payment for a fowling-piece."

"When?"

The witness gave the date.

"Can you swear to the bill?"

"I can; I wrote my name and the day of the month on it at the time;
here they are."

"Indeed! how happened you to do that?"

"I did it at the request of the gentleman who sits by your side;" and
the witness pointed to Captain Sedley.

"Who was the person that gave you the bill?"

"I do not know his name."

"Could you identify him?"

"I could."

Squire Benson requested the court to have Joe Braman summoned as a
witness in the case; and after a short delay, he was brought in by an
officer.

"Was that the person?"

"It was."

"You are sure?"

"I noticed the scar on his cheek," replied the witness, "and I should
not be likely to mistake such a person as that for another."

The audience smiled at this sally. Joe Braman was in truth an oddity in
his personal appearance, and the remark of the witness seemed to have a
peculiar force.

"That is all, Mr. Stevens; the witness