Then Betty lifted her head and spoke rapidly––eagerly. “Because he was very angry with Peter Junior, and he wanted to kill him, and he did try to push him over, but Peter struck him, and Richard didn’t truly know whether he really pushed him over or not,––for he lay there a long time before he even knew where he was, and when he came to himself again, he could not find Peter there and only his hat and things––he thought he must have done it, because that was what he was trying to do, just as everyone else has thought it––because when Peter saw him lying there, he thought he had killed Richard, and so he pushed a great stone over to make every one think he had gone over the bluff and was dead, too, and he left his hat there and the other things, and now he has come back to give himself up, just as he has said, because he could not stand it to live any longer with the thought on his conscience that he had killed Richard when he struck him. But you would not let him give himself up. You have kept on insisting he 478 is Richard. And it is all your fault, Elder Craigmile, because you won’t look to see that he is your son.” She paused, panting, flushed and indignant.
“Miss Ballard, you are here as a witness,” said the judge. “You must restrain yourself and answer the questions that are asked you and make no comments.”
Here the Elder leaned forward and touched his attorney, and pointed a shaking hand at the prisoner and said a few words, whereat the lawyer turned sharply upon the witness.
“Miss Ballard, you have visited the prisoner since he has been in the jail?”
“Yes, I said so.”
“Your Honor,” said the examiner, “we all know that the son of the plaintiff was lame, but this young man is sound on both his feet. You have been told that Richard Kildene was struck on the head and this young man bears the scar above his temple––”
Richard started forward, putting his hand to his head and lifting his hair as he did so. He tried to call out, but in his excitement his voice died in his throat, and Larry seized him and held him back.
“Watch him,––watch your uncle,” he whispered in his ear. “He thinks he has you there in the box and he wants you to get the worst the law will give you. Watch him! The girl understands him. See her eyes upon him. Stand still, boy; give him a chance to have his will. He’ll find it bitter when he learns the truth, and ’twill do him good. Wait, man! You’ll have it all in your hands later, and they’ll be none the worse for waiting a bit longer. Hold on for my sake, son. I’ll tell you why later, and you’ll not be sorry you gave heed to me.”
In these short ejaculated sentences, with his arm through Richard’s, Larry managed to keep him by his side as the examiner talked on.