would appear on the courthouse steps, and summon a witness to
court, where a frightened judge gave instructions to a frightened
jury. But few went, unless called; for the interest was outside;
every man in the streets knew that a storm was nigh, and was
waiting to see it burst.

Noon passed. A hoarse bell and a whining hound had announced
dinner in the hotel. The guests were coming again into the streets.
Eyes were brighter, faces a little more flushed, and the
"moonshine" was passed more openly. Both ways the crowd
watched closely. The quiet at each end of the street was ominous,
and the delay could last but little longer. The lookers-on
themselves were getting quarrelsome. The vent must come soon,
or among them there would be trouble.

Thar comes Jas Lewallen! " At last. A dozen voices spoke at
once. A horseman had appeared far down the street from the
Lewallen end. The clouds broke from about the sun, and a dozen
men knew the horse that bore him; for the gray was prancing the
street sidewise, and throwing the sunlight from his flanks. Nobody
followed, and the crowd was puzzled. Young Jasper carried a
Winchester across his saddle-bow, and, swaying with the action of
his horse, came on.

"What air he about?"

"He's a plumb idgit."

He mus' be crazy."