She tried to smile.
"I—I think——" She saw Steve Jarrold leering. "The witness," she said wildly. "There is only one, and——"
"It's usual to have two, anyhow," admitted the "judge." "But, being as things is a bit irregular and everything, why we'll make one do."
"There's Jim," said Gloria. She did not look toward Gratton, but he understood that she addressed him. "Jim Spalding. I'd feel better if some one I knew—if you'd get Jim to come, please."
She knew that she did not care whether Jim Spalding came or did not come; that she was fighting for delay and could not help snatching at any straw, though she knew that in the end she would go down, overwhelmed by circumstance. Circumstance and—Gratton. Gratton also knew and frowned.
"Gloria," he said smoothly, "that isn't necessary, is it?"
"Yes, it is!" she flared out at him hotly. "Go, get him."
"It will take only a minute," Gratton said over his shoulder as he went. He would see to it that it took no great amount of time. Spalding on his bench saw Gratton running toward him.
"You're wanted in the house a minute, Spalding," he said curtly. "Step lively, will you?"
Spalding, not given to stepping lively at other men's commands, was slow in answering, and then spoke drawlingly: