"I'll do what I can for you," continued Mont, "even if my uncle doesn't like it;" and he stepped out of the cell.
Half an hour later Jack was brought out for examination. The court room was crowded with the now idle men, and many were the expressions of sympathy for the young machinist, and denunciation for Mr. Felix Gray's hasty action.
The tool manufacturer himself did not appear. The officer who made the arrest said that the excitement of the past two days had made the plaintiff quite ill.
The hearing was a brief one. The match safe was the only evidence produced against Jack, and as he had no means of proving his innocence then and there, it was decided to hold him to wait the action of the grand jury, three weeks later. Bail was fixed at one thousand dollars--a sum that was thought amply sufficient to keep any one from becoming his bondsman.
Meanwhile, Mont had delivered the note, as already recorded, and while being led out of the court room, Jack recognized the young man in the crowd, and an instant later found Deb at his side.
"Oh, Jack!" was all the poor girl could say, and clinging to his arms, she began to sob outright.
To see Deb cry made the young machinist feel worse than did his incarceration. He drew his sister to one side--away from the public gaze, and comforted her the best he could.
But the thought of going to prison was too terrifying to be subdued.
"Three weeks before they will hear what you have to say!" she exclaimed. "If you could only find that Mosey!"
"But he has left," put in Mont; "I tried everywhere to find him. Maybe you can get bail."