Down in the little box where the lawyers sat someone was speaking in a low tone which reached only to the officials of the court. Then the deep voice of the judge filled the room.

"So the accused has not appeared for trial? Let him be called three times."

The court crier cleared his throat and shouted in a raucous voice, "Raymond Burton! Raymond Burton! Raymond Burton!"

A hush that could be felt fell over the a.s.sembled people. For a full minute there was absolute silence.

It was the judge who spoke again. "Bonds were no doubt given for the appearance of this Burton at trial?"

An official answered, "Yes, my lord."

Gardiner stood up from the front seat of the audience. "I am his--" he managed to say, but was instantly silenced.

"That will do," said the judge; "an order will--"

At this moment a commotion was heard among the crowd who had not been able to gain admittance, and all eyes were turned toward the door. In another instant a young man, flushed, dishevelled and mud-bespattered, forced his way into the room, glanced about the interior for an instant to get his bearings, and walked straight to the prisoner's box where Bill Hagan, the town constable, now promoted to the position of a court official, stood with as much dignity as his years spent in leaning over a bar made possible.

"Well, Bill, were you waiting for me?" was the question he addressed the constable.

It was not until they heard him speak that the crowd seemed to realise that Raymond Burton in the flesh stood in the prisoner's box. When they grasped that fact an huzzah broke out from a few enthusiasts, which was immediately seized by others and grew in volume until it threatened to raise the roof.

Order was quickly restored, when the judge scolded the people soundly, threatening that he would have the court room cleared if there were any further demonstrations.

Then turning to Burton he asked, "Are you the Raymond Burton named in the indictment?"

"I did not hear the indictment, my lord, but I am Raymond Burton."

"You have," continued the judge, "by your absence delayed the operation of this Court and the machinery of justice. I may say to you frankly, that I was given to understand that you had evaded the police and would not appear for trial, and at the moment of your entry I was about to make an order distraining the bail given for your appearance. Can you give an explanation of your conduct?"

"I can, my lord. I was in the West, where I intended to enter for a homestead. I was, in fact, in line before the door of the Land Office when I discovered that if I were to reach Plainville in time for my trial I must leave at once. I would have been here early this morning if my train had come through on time, but a bridge was burned out last night, and we were delayed. I walked fourteen miles along the track, when a friend provided me with an automobile, but the roads were so bad, and we had a number of mishaps, that I have only now reached the town. I am very sorry, my lord, that you have been delayed."

The judge listened patiently through this explanation, and it was evident that he was impressed with the sincere, straight-forward manner in which it was given. He appeared to accept Burton's statement as the truth, without question. The effect on the audience of the boy's appearance and the quiet words he addressed to the Court was electrical, and they were again on the point of bursting into a cheer when they were restrained by a peremptory "Silence in the court." Burton glanced again about the room, and to his astonishment saw tears of emotion glistening in many eyes. Old d.i.c.k Matheson's face was radiant as he confided in a whisper to a neighbour that he "knew his father on the Muddywaski"; Alice Goode, who had stolen away from the dinner dishes, was fairly dancing on her chair; the Grant boys shot at him looks electrified with enthusiasm; and to the breast of his own father the Scotch pride had returned as he turned about in his seat and looked with defiance upon the a.s.sembled crowd. There were only two black faces in the house; Hiram Riles, of whom Burton expected nothing better; and Gardiner, whom he did not understand. One would have thought that Gardiner would have been delighted at the saving of his bond, but the merchant chewed his lip in vexation. He had been playing for greater stakes.

And yet Burton knew that he stood under the shadow of certain conviction; that from that court house he would march to jail. But he had played the part of a man; he had justified the loyalty of his friends, and now nothing else seemed to matter.

"Your failure to appear here on time," said the judge, again addressing Burton, "appears to have been due to causes which you could not foresee and over which you had no control. The Court has been inconvenienced, but the Court has no grievance in such a case. I will allow you fifteen minutes to consult with your solicitor, after which your trial will proceed. If it should appear later that you are ent.i.tled to be remanded to permit of calling witnesses in your defence, reasonable opportunity will be afforded you to do so."

CHAPTER XIX-THE LIGHT AT LAST

"And though on Life's uncertain sea, We veer and tack in stormy stress, I doubt not in the years to be The generations will agree, We sailed direct to blessedness!"

Gardiner was the first witness for the prosecution. He told briefly facts with which the reader is already acquainted. He had left a package of two thousand dollars in the safe Sat.u.r.day night; on Monday morning the money was gone, and Burton's keys were hanging in the lock of the cash drawer. No one but Burton and himself knew the combination of the safe; no one but Burton and himself had keys to the cash drawer. On making the discovery he had placed the matter in the hands of the police. He had always thought Burton to be honest; he believed he lived inside his salary and that he was free from any extravagant vice.

The next witness was Graves. He gave his profession as that of a detective, and said he had been detailed to cover the theft from Mr.

Gardiner's safe. He had obtained employment in Gardiner's store in the capacity of clerk, and had made a point to cultivate Burton's acquaintance. He had found the prisoner to be a young man of apparent honesty and good habits. Nothing that could be learned at the store added any light to the subject, so he had decided to search Burton's rooms. At the very bottom of Burton's trunk he had found the package stolen from Gardiner's safe. The package had been broken and a ten dollar bill removed. Otherwise it was intact. The envelope and money were produced in evidence.

Burton listened to the evidence of these witnesses without emotion-almost without interest. But when the next name was called he looked up with surprised interest. Hiram Riles entered the box.

Riles testified that he was in Plainville late on the Sunday night preceding the discovery of the robbery. As he was walking down town to get his team before leaving for home he fancied he saw a glimmer of light in Gardiner's store. Peering in through the window he could see Burton in the little office at the back, working at the combination of the safe by match-light. He knew that Burton was connected with the store and at the time did not suspect anything wrong.

Burton fidgeted in his chair. The mystery of the broken bottle was now clear to him, and he longed to charge Riles with the deed.

A hardware clerk testified to selling Burton a revolver on the morning the theft was discovered.

Polly Lester was next called. She took the usual oath, and Lawyer Perkins rose to question her.

"What is your name?"

"Doris Landin."

"Your profession?"

"I am a private detective."

At these words a buzz of astonishment ran about the crowded room. To many present the girl was a stranger, but others knew her as a domestic at Mrs. Goode's boarding-house.

"And you, too, were watching Burton?"

"Yes, sir."

"What did you learn of him."

"I found nothing to reflect upon his character."

"Exactly; but you made-that is, you were present at a certain discovery?"

"I watched from behind the door when the prisoner's trunk was searched.

I saw the package taken out of his trunk."

"And you identify the package?"

"I do."

"Thank you. That will do, Miss Landin."

"But that is not all I saw."

"That will do--"

"But I am under oath to tell the whole truth--"

"If the witness has anything to add relative to this charge the Court will hear it," said the judge. "Please tell us, as concisely as you can, what you know of this matter."

The girl turned and faced the judge, while all ears were strained to catch her next utterance. The auditors felt that at last some new light would break on this mystery. Perkins seemed little pleased with the turn events had taken; Bradshaw evidently enjoyed the situation, although apparently quite at sea himself, and Burton betrayed his eagerness by leaning forward and clasping his hands nervously. The fact that the girl was a detective was a relevation to him, and he wondered what new bolt would come from a sky so long overcast.