Trial Justice Davis sat in his office. He was a man of sixty, with a keen but not unbenevolent face, looking all the more sagacious, perhaps, because of a pair of gold spectacles which surmounted his nose. He had been apprised of the trial at which he was expected to preside, and he looked surprised and regretful.
"I can't believe that boy is guilty," he said to himself. "I have always looked upon him as one of the best boys in town."
At nine, the principal parties concerned entered the office. First, Colonel Ross and Philip walked in--Philip with an attempt to be at ease, but with a perceptibly nervous air, notwithstanding.
Harry Gilbert entered, walking beside the constable. Behind him followed his mother and Uncle Obed. Mrs. Gilbert looked anxious, though the constable assured her that there was no need of it, and that Harry would be triumphantly acquitted. Harry did not look in the least frightened, but seemed much more at ease than Philip.
A trial before a police justice in a country town is much more informal than in a city, and this should be remembered by those who read this chapter.
"What charge do you bring against Harry Gilbert, Colonel?" asked the justice.
"I charge him with entering my house on the evening of the nineteenth instant, opening the small trunk in which I keep my valuable papers and securities, and abstracting therefrom two United States Government bonds, of the par value of a hundred dollars each."
"You hear the charge, Harry," said the justice. "Are you guilty or not guilty?"
"Not guilty," answered Harry, in clear, ringing accents, surveying the Colonel proudly.
"You ought to have some one to defend you," said the justice.
"I will defend myself," said Harry, resolutely.
"Very well. Colonel Ross, I will hear your testimony."
The Colonel, being sworn, testified that he had missed the bonds on the morning afterward, and had been led, by what his son told him, to suspect Harry Gilbert. He had gone to the cottage, and found the bonds. He was about to rehearse Philip's information, but the justice stopped him, and said he would hear Philip in person.
"Have you any question to ask the witness?" asked the justice of Harry.
"Can I reserve my questions?" asked Harry.
"Yes; if you desire it."
Philip was next sworn. He testified that, on the evening in question, he had seen Harry prowling round the house, just before going up to bed.
"How did you happen to sit up so late?" asked Harry.
"That's my affair," replied Philip, haughtily.
"Answer!" thundered the justice, angrily. "No insolence here, sir!"
"I was reading," said Philip, frightened.
"Did you go into the room where the trunk was?" asked Harry, in his capacity as lawyer.
"Ye-es."
"Did you open the trunk?"
"No," answered Philip, nervously.
"I protest against the prisoner's insolence to my son," exclaimed Colonel Ross, angrily.
"It is a question he has a right to ask," said the justice, calmly.
"Did you see the keys which your father left on his desk?" asked Harry.
"No," answered Philip, ill at ease.
"I should now like to question Colonel Ross," said Harry.
The Colonel, with a curl of the lip, took the stand again.
"Really," he said, "it looks as if my son and I were on trial instead of the prisoner."
"Colonel Ross, you must be aware that I am according Harry no unusual privileges. It is as a lawyer--his own advocate--that he questions you."
"Go on," said the Colonel, haughtily.
"Colonel Ross," continued Harry, "do you generally keep a list of the numbers on your bonds?"
"Of course!"
"Can you furnish the numbers of the bonds that were taken from you?"
"I can give the numbers of the whole ten bonds. I don't know which were taken. I have not compared my list with those that remain."
"Have you the numbers with you?"
"Yes, I have them in my notebook."
"Will you be kind enough to repeat them so that the court may take them down?"
"Certainly! though I don't see what good that will do."
"It is of material importance," said the justice, nodding approval.
Colonel Ross drew from his inside coat pocket a large wallet, and, open............