s--that is much better. But even that has an offensive
sound. Unintentionally so; groping, we near the heart of the mystery;
the rail was to keep back the crowd and prevent confusion. That it has
now become a sacramental barrier, a symbol and a sign of esoteric
mystery, is not the rail's fault; it is the fault of the people on
each side of the rail. Mr. Wade had been all the long forenoon
examining Caney and Weir, and was now searching the deeps of his mind
for a last question to put to Mr. Hales, his last witness. Mr. Wade's
brow was furrowed with thought; his hands were deep in his own
pockets. Mr. Wade's walk was leisurely important and fascinating to
behold. His foot raised slowly and very high, very much as though
those pocketed hands had been the lifting agency. When he reached the
highest point of each step his toe turned up, his foot paused, and
then felt furtively for the floor--quite as if he were walking a rope,
or as if the floor might not be there at all. The toe found the floor,
the heel followed cautiously, they planted themselves on the floor and
took a firm grip there; after which the other foot ventured forward.
With such stealthy tread the wild beast of prey creeps quivering to
pounce upon his victim. But Mr. Wade never leaped. And he was not
wild.

The court viewed Mr. Wade's constitutional with some impatience, but
Johnny Dines was charmed by it; he felt a real regret when Mr. Wade
turned to him with a ferocious frown and snapped: "Take the witness!"

Mr. Wade parted his coat tails and sat down, performing that duty with
the air of a sacrament. Johnny did not rise. He settled back
comfortably in his chair and looked benevolently at the witness.

"Now, Mr. Hales, about that yearling I branded in Redgate canyon--what
color was it?"

Mr. Wade rose, indignant.

"Your honor, I object! The question is irrelevant, incompetent and
immaterial. Aside from its legal status, such a question is foolish
and absurd, and an insult to the court."

"Why, now, I didn't object to any of your foolish and absurd questions
all morning." Johnny's eyes widened with gentle reproach. "I let you
ask all the questions you wanted."

Mr. Wade's nose twisted to a triumphant sneer.

"'He who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client!'"

"I didn't want to take any unfair advantage," explained Johnny.

"Gentlemen! Gentlemen!" expostulated the court.

"You gallows meat!" snarled Wade. "You dirty--"

Johnny shook his hea