For an hour Matt sat in his chair; then, for an hour longer, he paced the floor. After that he tried to read, but his gloomy thoughts would give him no peace.
It was about nine o'clock when he pulled covers, but for a long time he could only toss about sleeplessly and think of Clip. He heard the clock in the court-house tower chime the hours up to midnight, and then dropped into heavy slumber.
The gray dawn was looking in at his windows when he was aroused. Somebody was pounding on his door. Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, he jumped up, unlocked the door, and pulled it open.
Chub McReady staggered in. His face was gray in the dim light, and he was breathless from running and excitement.
"What do you think, Matt?" he puffed. "Clip's been arrested. He's over in the jail, now."
[CHAPTER V.]
A VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
"Arrested!"
Matt staggered back and dropped on the edge of the bed.