“Good Lord, man!” he said, with a grin, “that’s the plumb smartest criminal lawyer in the hull county. That’s a fac’. Lord, Lord! Him Jesse Black?”
His risibilities continued to thus get the better of his gravity at frequent intervals during the day. He never failed to snort aloud in pure delight whenever he thought of it. What a tale for the boys when he could get to them!
“These cattle men!” This time the tenderfoot communicated with himself—he had a square chin and a direct eye; there were possibilities in him. “Their perverted sense of the ridiculous is diabolical.”
There were others who did not know the little man. He hailed from the southern part of the State. But Gordon knew him. He knew he was pitted against one of the sharpest, shrewdest men of his day.
“Gentlemen, I think we are ready,” said the Judge, and the game was on again.
The State called Paul Langford, its principal witness in default of Williston.
“Your name, place of residence, and business?” asked the counsel for the State.
“Paul Langford. I reside in Kemah County, and I own and operate a cattle ranch.”
After Langford had clearly described and identified the animal in question, Gordon continued:
“Mr. Langford, when did you first miss this steer?”