“From what evil influences, then, was it necessary to rescue her?”
“That’s not a fair way to put it. It was too late for her to be out.”
“When did you discover this undeniable fact?”
“Just then.”
“Not when you were taking her through the fair in lordly style?”
“No. There was no harm in the shows, and I realized the time only when the clock struck ten.”
Every adult listener nodded approval. The adroit lawyer saw that he was merely strengthening the jury’s good opinion of the boy. He must strike hard and unmercifully if he would shake their belief in Martin’s good faith.
“There were several other children there—a boy named Bates, another named Beadlam, Mrs. Atkinson’s three girls, and others?”
“Bates was with me. The others were in the yard.”
“Ah, yes; they had left you a few minutes earlier. Now, is it not a fact that these children, and you with them, had gone to this hiding-place to escape being caught by your seniors?”