"We can't wait any longer. Very likely Tim had left his hiding-place when the officer got there, and the latter is so foolish as to try to find him. I should have warned them that Skip must return at all hazards, for by sending him away we lose a most important witness."
The boys arose to their feet in silence, and Joe was positively despondent in the face of what seemed very like defeat.
On arriving at the court the partners were given seats within the enclosure reserved for attorneys, and very near the superintendent; but he paid no attention to them.
The cashier glared fiercely at Sam for an instant, and then turned to look steadily in another direction.
The court was occupied with another case, and in answer to Sam's question Mr. Hunter said that his trial would not begin until it was finished.
"If it'll hold on 'till to-morrow so's to give Skip a fair chance of gettin' here, I'll be willin' to sit in this chair all night," Joe whispered to Fred.
"It can't be delayed very long, or Mr. Hunter would tell us," was the mournful reply.
"S'pose I slip out an' watch for him? He won't know where to come if there's nobody in the office."
This Fred thought was a very good idea, and he suggested it to the lawyer, who said:
"The constable knows that he is needed here, therefore they will put in an appearance immediately after arriving."