"There appears not to be a particle of evidence against the defendant," said Squire Pollard. "I move that he be discharged."
I was discharged.
My friends gathered around me, as the court broke up, to congratulate me on the happy event. Clarence was satisfied, and how warmly Emily Goodridge pressed my trembling hand! In my heart I thanked God for this issue. Captain Fishley seemed to be stunned by the result; and Mrs. Fishley, who came in after the examination commenced, "wanted to know!" Ham was confounded; and as he was moving out of the office, the post-office agent placed a heavy hand upon his shoulder.
My junior tyrant looked ghastly pale when he was conducted back to the magistrate's table. His guilty soul was withering in his bosom. Tyrants as his father and mother had been to me, I pitied them, for they were not guilty of his crime.
"What do you mean by that?" demanded Captain Fishley, angrily, as the detective dragged his son up to the bar of justice.
"I arrest him for robbing the mail."
"Me!" exclaimed Ham, his lips as white as his face, and his knees smiting each other in his terror.
"I should like to know!" ejaculated his mother, holding up both her hands in horror and surprise.
"Do you mean to say that Ham robbed the mail!" demanded Captain Fishley.
"I am afraid he did."