The prosecutor had nothing to say, and Chub got down and walked wearily to a seat beside Susie and Welcome.
And Clip! The first real feeling he had shown he showed then. With his face in his hands he leaned across the table beside which he was sitting.
Short finished his plea. He did not consume much time, for he was an astute lawyer and knew when he had his jury with him. Jurymen are emotional, as well as any one else; they can weigh the evidence, but sentiment cuts a big figure in any jury's decision—just how big probably even the jurymen themselves do not know.
The judge's charge was brief. He asked the jurymen to weigh the facts irrespective of the impression the heroism of the prisoner's friends might have had on them.
And when the charge was finished, without leaving their seats, a verdict of "not guilty" was rendered.
Then Bedlam broke loose again. Everybody crowded around Tom Clipperton to congratulate him.
But Clipperton, pushing his way through the crowd, started for the door.
"My pard!" he cried. "He's hurt, perhaps dead! I must get to Prescott."