She thrust her hand toward him and he seized it in both of his, and
then released it instantly, and, as though afraid of his own self-
control, backed hurriedly from her, and she turned and walked rapidly
away.

Captain Carr, who had been Ranson's captain in the Philippines, and
who was much his friend, had been appointed to act as his counsel.
When later that morning he visited his client to lay out a line of
defence he found Ranson inclined to treat the danger which threatened
him with the most arrogant flippancy. He had never seen him in a more
objectionable mood.

"You can call the charge 'tommy-rot' if you like," Carr protested,
sharply. "But, let me tell you that's not the view any one else takes
of it, and if you expect the officers of the court-martial and the
civil authorities to take that view of it you've got to get down to
work and help me prove that it IS 'tommy rot.' That Miss Post, as
soon as she got here, when she thought it was only a practical joke,
told them that the road agent threatened her with a pair of shears.
Now, Crosby and Curtis will testify that you took a pair of shears
from Cahill's, and from what Miss Post saw of your ring she can
probably identify that, too; so--"

"Oh, we concede the shears," declared Ranson, waving his hand
grandly. "We admit the first hold-up."

"The devil we do!" returned Carr. "Now, as your counsel, I advise
nothing of the sort."