believe me better right now--"

"Wait a minute, Andy!"

A man rose in the crowd--a tall old man with a melancholy face--the
same who had summoned Hobby Lull to the door.

"Why, hello, Pete! I didn't see you come!" said the judge.

"That's funny, too. I have been here half an hour. You're getting old,
Andy--getting old!"

"Oh, you go to thunder! Say, can you straighten up this mess?"

"I can help, at least--or so I believe. I was with the search party."

"Well, who calls this witness--the defense or the prosecution?"
inquired the court.

"Oh, let me call myself--as the friend of the court, _amicus curiae_,
just as they used to do in England--do yet, for all I know. I've not
heard your evidence--though I saw some just now, outside. But I've got
a few facts which you may be able to fit in somewhere. I don't know
the defendant, and am not for or against the prosecutor or for anybody
or anything except justice. So I'll take it kindly if you'd let me
tell my story in my own way--as the friend of justice. I'll get over
the ground quicker and tell it straighter. If anyone is not satisfied
they can cross-examine me afterwards, just as if I had been called by
one side or the other."

Judge Hinkle turned to Wade. "Any objections?"

"No," said Wade. "I guess justice is what we all want--results, as you
said yourself."

He was a subdued man. His three witnesses stirred uneasily, with
sidelong glances. Spinal Maginnis kept a corner of his eye on those
witnesses.

"Suits me," said Johnny.

"I got to get me a drink," whispered Caney, and rose, tiptoeing. But
Maginnis rose with him.

"Sit down, Mr. Caney," he said. "You look poorly. I'll fetch you some
water."

Pete Harkey took the stand and was duly sworn. He crossed his legs and
addressed the judge.

"Well, we went up in Redgate, Dan Fenderson and I and a bunch. We
thought there was no use of more than one coming here to-day, because
we all saw just the same things."

Hinkle nodded. "All right, Pete. Tell us about it."

"Well, now, Andy--Your Honor--if it's just the same to everybody,
I'll skip the part about the tracks and finding Adam until
cross-examination. It's just going over the same old ground again.
I've been talking to Hobby, and we found everything just about as you
heard it from these boys." His eye shifted toward the witness bench.
"All except one little thing about the tracks, and that was done after
the murder, and might have been happen-so. And