Larkin quickened his pace and the detective seized his arm.
The Carpetbagger threw him off with sudden fury and plunged toward the door.
With the spring of a tiger, Ackerman leaped on him. A brief fierce fight, and he was dragged panting back before the astonished Court, while every man in the room sprang to his feet and pressed around the struggling men.
“What’s the meaning of this disorder?” thundered the presiding Judge.
“With apologies to the Court for the interruption I beg leave to present the murderer of Judge Butler—I ask a warrant for his arrest,” Ackerman demanded.
A wave of horror swept the crowd of Larkin’s friends.
“The man is a crazy liar, your Honours,” protested Larkin. “And he has proven himself a renegade and a scoundrel in this court room to-day. I protest against this outrage.”
“I’ll prove my charge to the Court—every link in the chain of evidence is now complete,” was the cool answer.
With the court room in an uproar, Larkin was arrested and placed between Ackerman and a deputy, and the trial resumed.
A brief conference between the District Attorney and Isaac preceded the first question asked by John’s counsel after the disturbance.