“See you?� retorted the judge fiercely, “see you? I didn’t see a damned thing but that young shyster, and before he got through I could have hugged him, yes, sir, hugged him for making that speech.�
The colonel shook with laughter. “Tommy,� he began.
But just then there were two sharp reports of a pistol near at hand, followed by a tumult in the street below. Both men hurried to the window, but the jutting wing of the court-room hid the center of interest, and all they could see was the crowd of human beings huddled and packed in the narrow entrance of the alley that led to the Criminal Court-room. There were confused cries and shoutings, and almost immediately the gong of the emergency ambulance.
“Some one’s been shot,� said Judge Ladd coolly; then he turned from the window and halted with his finger on the bell.
The door from the court-room had opened abruptly and Judge Hollis came in. Both Ladd and Colonel Royall faced him in some anxiety; there was an electric current of excitement in the air.
“Yarnall has been shot dead,� he said briefly.
“My God!� exclaimed Judge Ladd.
Colonel Royall said nothing, but turned white.
“Have they got the assassin?� the judge demanded, recovering his self-control.
“No,� replied Judge Hollis, a singular expression on his face. “No, the shot was fired from the window of the court-room; the room was empty, everybody at dinner, and the windows open; the pistol is on the floor, two chambers empty. Only one man was seen in the window, a negro, and he has escaped.�