ow with tobacco stain, was still
venerable, and his voice, deep and melodious, was impressive and
commanding.

He was disposed to cut short all useless forms, and soon brought the
case to vital questions. Naturally, the prosecution made a great deal of
Harold's bad character, drawing from ready witnesses the story of his
misdeeds. To do this was easy, for the current set that way, and those
who had only _thought_ Harold a bad boy now _knew_ that he was concerned
in all the mischief of the village.

In rebuttal, Mr. Talcott drew out contradictory statements from these
witnesses, and proved several alibis at points where Harold had been
accused. He produced Jack Burns and several others to prove that Harold
liked fun, but that he was not inclined to lead in any of the mischief
of the town--in fact, that he had not the quality of leadership.

He pushed young Burns hard to get him to say that he knew the words of
insult which Slocum had used. "I think he used some girl's name," he
finally admitted.

"I object," shouted the prosecution, as if touched on a hidden spring.

"Go on," said the judge to Talcott. He had become interested in the case
at last.

When the lawyer for the prosecution cross-examined young Burns he became
terrible. He leaned across the table and shook his lean, big-jointed
finger in Jack's face. "We don't want what you _think_, sir; we want
what you know. Do you _know_ that Slocum brought a girl's name into
this?"

"No, sir, I don't," replied Jack, red and perspiring.

"That's all!" cried the attorney, leaning back in his chair with
dramatic complacency.

Others of Harold's companions were brow-beaten into declaring that he
led them into all kinds of raids, and when Talcott tried to stem this
tide by objection, the prosecution rose to say that the testimony was
competent; that it was designed to show the dangerous character of the
prisoner. "He is no gentle and guileless youth, y'r Honor, but a
reckless young devil, given to violence. No one will go further than I
in admiration of the Reverend Mr. Excell, but the fact of the son's
lawless life can not be gainsaid."

Slocum repeated his story on the stand and was unshaken by Bradley's
cross-examination. Suddenly the defense said: "Stand, please."

Slocum arose--a powerful, full-grown man.

Bradley nodded at Harold. "Stand also."

"I object," shrieked the prosecution.

"State the objection," said the judge.

"Keep your position," said Bra