Greetings were exchanged, some kind, encouraging words spoken to her and
Max, then their father and the other gentlemen fell into conversation.
The children had never been in a court-room before, and were interested in looking about and observing what was going on. They were early; in season to see the judges come in and take their seats on the bench, and the opening of the court.
Some lesser matters occupied its attention for a time, then there was a little stir of excitement in the crowd as the sheriff and his deputy entered with Ajax and his fellow burglar, but it quieted down in a moment as the prisoners took their places at the bar, and the voice of the presiding judge sounded distinctly through the room, "Commonwealth against Perry Davis and Ajax Stone. Burglary. Are you ready for trial?"
"We are, your Honor," replied the district attorney.
"Very well," said the judge, "arraign the prisoners."
Then the two prisoners were told to stand up while the district attorney read the indictment, which charged them with "burglariously breaking and entering into the mansion-house of Captain Raymond of Woodburn, on the second day of January last passed," and while there attempting to break into and rob his safe and to carry off articles of value from other parts of the dwelling.
The court-room was very quiet during the reading of the indictment, so that Max and Lulu who were listening intently, heard every word.
Lulu looked her astonishment when the prisoners pleaded, "Not guilty."
"Why they are! and they know they are!" she whispered to Max.
"Of course," he returned in the same low key, "but do you suppose men who break into houses to steal, will hesitate to lie?"