"'Virginia Cary,' General, is a non-combatant and a child. 'Escort' may mean a single person—or it may mean a whole troop of cavalry."
To his infinite relief and joy his Commanding General looked up at him thoughtfully, then slowly rose from his desk and took a turn about the room, followed by a faint blue trail of cigar smoke. He paused.
"And what does Cary say?" he asked.
Again Harris smiled the quiet smile of the lawyer who has been confronted with such questions before and knows well how to answer them.
"He, too, is on trial for his life. His evidence, naturally, was not admitted."
"Ah! Then what says Morrison?"
"Nothing, sir," was the young lieutenant's calm reply. "The burden of proof lies with the prosecution—not with the defendant."
"And this is your contention—your legal flaw in my machine?" the General asked sharply.
"It is."
"Very good, sir—very good. In that case we'll call in these silent partners and dig into this case until we reach rock bottom!"