er get
another man to help him.

"What! Surely ye'r not goin' to leave us, are ye?" Jake exclaimed.

"Not just yet," Douglas informed him. "But I may not be able to give
you full service for a while. And, besides, if this trial should go
against me, I may be forced to leave the place after all. If Squire
Hawkins fails to give justice and allows Ben to go free, what am I to
do?" Douglas merely asked this to see what Jake would say.

"So ye think that Hen Hawkins might not give ye justice, eh? Is that
what's botherin' ye?"

"Oh, it's not bothering me very much, only it might shorten my stay
here, that's all. It will be no use for me to remain in this place
with all the people against me. I can go elsewhere."

"The hull people'll not be aginst ye," and Jake brought his big fist
down upon the kitchen table with a bang. "Mebbe they'll have a few
things to say if Hen Hawkins isn't on the square. I know that him an'
the Stubbles eat out of the same trough. But great punkins! they'll
dance on the same griddle if they're not keerful."

Douglas was surprised at the number of men gathered at the hall when he
and Jake arrived that afternoon. Most of them were sitting or standing
in little groups outside, discussing the one important question of the
day. Just what they were saying he could not tell, as the time had
come for the trial to begin and the men flocked into the building.
Squire Hawkins was sitting on the platform, and by his side was his
clerk with pen and paper before him, ready to take down the evidence.

"Guess the Squire has closed his store this afternoon," Jake whispered
to his companion. "He's got his clerk with him to do the writin'."

Douglas noticed that Ben Stubbles was not in the hall, but he saw Tom
and Pete with the other men who had taken part in the attack, sitting
in the front seat. Had Ben been summoned? he wondered. He wanted the
rascal to be present to hear all that would be said.

The trial was the most peculiar and interesting one Douglas had ever
witnessed. Squire Hawkins did not know how to conduct the case, but
what he lacked in knowledge he made up in words and a pompous manner.
He was feeling his importance on this occasion, and was determined to
make the most of it. Rising to his feet, he stated the charges that
had been made against Tom Totten and Pete Rollins. Then he ordered the
offenders to come forward.

"You have heard the charges made against you, have you no