trial and the grizzled judge was speaking angrily:

"This is the third time you've had this trial postponed because
you hain't got no lawyer. I ain't goin' to put it off. Have you
got you a lawyer now?"

"Yes, jedge," said the defendant.

"Well, whar is he?"

"Over thar on the jury."

The judge looked at the man on the jury.

"Well, I reckon you better leave him whar he is. He'll do you more
good thar than any whar else."

Hale laughed aloud--the judge glared at him and he turned quickly
upstairs to his work in the deed-room. Till noon he worked and yet
there was no trouble. After dinner he went back and in two hours
his work was done. An atmospheric difference he felt as soon as he
reached the door. The crowd had melted from the square. There were
no women in sight, but eight armed men were in front of the door
and two of them, a red Falin and a black Tolliver--Bad Rufe it
was--were quarrelling. In every doorway stood a man cautiously
looking on, and in a hotel window he saw a woman's frightened
face. It was so still that it seemed impossible that a tragedy
could be imminent, and yet, while he was trying to take the
conditions in, one of the quarrelling men--Bad Rufe Tolliver--
whipped out his revolver and before he could level it, a Falin