“You see, Miss,” said one of the officers, “we got to take him to court. It’s as much as our job’s worth to let him go.”  
“We’ll all go along,” said Ned, firmly. “Maybe the judge will be kind to him.”
 
“But they’ve got a bad law in this town,” said the other officer, shaking his head.
 
“What kind of a law?” asked Ned, quickly.
 
“In regard to . It’s three months on the stone pile, or with ball and chain. No getting out of it, unless the prisoner has money enough to buy a ticket that will take him fifty miles away, on one road or the other.”
 
“Why! that is barbarous!” exclaimed Dorothy.
 
“Dunno about that, Ma’am; but it’s the municipal .”
 
“Oh! the judge of the court must have some power,” cried Dorothy. “Do let me talk to him.”
 
The ’s court was not far distant. Ned felt rather as he climbed the stairs in company with the prisoner and officers, holding Dorothy’s hand in the of his arm. There were some pretty rough looking characters on the stairs and hanging about the door of the magistrate’s court. But Ned and Dorothy pushed on in the wake of the railroad police and their prisoner.
 
Dorothy sympathized so deeply with the old man who had escaped from the discipline and routine of the Soldiers’ Home, that she paid little attention to her surroundings.
 
The courtroom was long, and ugly, and bare. The man sitting at the high desk at the end of the room, Dorothy knew, must be the magistrate. He was a young, shaven man, dressed very fashionably, and with a flower in his buttonhole. That flower was the single bright spot in all the place.
 
The railroad policeman looked knowingly at Dorothy, and she went forward with Ned. They were both allowed inside the railing. One of the officers in a low tone to the magistrate, and the latter glanced interestedly at Dorothy.
 
Although Dorothy Dale had been traveling night and day for some time, she was too attractive a girl to lose all her bonny appearance under any circumstances.
 
The magistrate listened to the railroad detective. Then he called the poor old man to the bar.
 
“What is your name?” asked the magistrate.
 
“John Dempsey, your honor.”
 
“Without a home in this county, and no visible means of support, the officer says—is that right?”
 
“I—I—Yes, your honor.”
 
“And found riding on the train without a ticket?”
 
“I was, your honor.”
 
“Why? Why did you do it?”
 
“Sure, your honor, they treat me well enough at the Home; but I want to get out in the open. It’s I am become by four walls.”
 
“But that does not explain away the fact that you stole a ride upon the complainant’s train?” said the magistrate, sternly.
 
Dorothy looked up at him pleadingly. John Dempsey was silent; he could not plead his own cause in speech as as Dorothy’s eyes pleaded for him! Judge Abbott the young girl to step up beside him.
 
“I understand you wish to speak in the prisoner’s behalf?” said the magistrate.
 
“Oh, Judge! ought he to be a prisoner with that button on his coat?” cried Dorothy Dale, . “He is an old Veteran—a man who fought for our country. I am sure Mr. Dempsey is a good man. Don’t punish him, Judge!”
 
“But, my dear young lady, how can I help it? He has committed a misdemeanor. He must either be sent to jail, or he must produce his fare out of town—and fifty miles out of town, at that!”
 
“Oh, sir! can’t somebody else pay his fare?” asked Dorothy, anxiously.
 
“Surely, Miss. Are you prepared to do so?”
 
“No, sir, not now. But I will take him away on the one o’clock train—I will indeed.”
 
“Very well. Sentence suspended. Paroled in your care,” added the judge to one of the railroad officers. “You have him at the station in season for the train, and the young lady will be responsible for his fare.”
 
Dorothy thanked him, but went eagerly to the prisoner.
 
“Where do you want to go, sir?” she asked.
 
“I—I—Well, Miss, it don’t so much matter as long as I git to go. I want to reach the hills.”
 
“You shall go with us as far as Dugonne, at least,” said Dorothy, impulsively. “I’m sure we can find something for him to do at the Hardin place, Ned?” she added, turning to her cousin.
 
Ned was more than a little startled by this. Things were moving rather too fast for him. But he managed to say:
 
“You—you’ll have to settle that with the mater, Dot.” But then he whispered: “What can an old fellow like him do on a ?”
 
“That’s all right,” Doroth............