Just as the hands of the court-room clock pointed to a quarter of two there was a stir at the door. A crowd of excited men surged through, a red-haired boy, haggard, his face and hands covered with the grime of more than a hundred miles in a locomotive-cab, led the crowd. The boy staggered as he pressed through the room toward the enclosure.
"Evidence!" cried the red-haired boy huskily; "evidence for Tom Clipperton!"
There was a brief period of silence, during which the prisoner jumped to his feet and peered wonderingly at Chub McReady. Leffingwell, in charge of Clipperton, caught his arm and pulled him roughly back into his seat.
In another moment a buzz of excitement ran through the room, and was rapidly increasing to an uproar when the bailiff pounded for order.
"The room will be cleared," warned the judge, "unless we can have quiet."
Short, doubtful but snatching at a straw of hope, turned to the judge and requested that the case be reopened for the taking of further evidence. The prosecutor was instantly on his feet with an objection. Objection was overruled.
"I will call Chub McReady to the stand," said Short.
Another objection from the prosecutor. McReady's evidence was already in, according to the representative of the people, in the form of an affidavit.
Short begged to remind the learned counsel for the State that it was Matt King's affidavit that had been read in court, and not McReady's.
Objection overruled. Chub made his way unsteadily to the witness-chair, stood up while he was being sworn, and then dropped down in a way that showed how spent he was with recent efforts.