"I shall prove," he said, "that I have never been on Hope Island before this afternoon, and that will clear me from the charge brought against me; for Mr. Johnson has not put into his warrant that I robbed the house to-day, as he knew such a charge could not be sustained, but that I committed the burglary some time between the 1st of April (when he was last on there) and to-day.
"I shall, of course, depend upon you as the principal witness as to my residing on Fox Island.
"Mr. Wright and Mr. Benton can testify as to where I was previous to my joining you, and Mr. Dane can testify that I did not go to Hope Island while with him; that I bought my provisions there for our use on Fox Island; and that I did not leave there until after four o'clock to-day. Perhaps it is not really necessary to have Mr. Dane's testimony, but I had rather he would be here, and you can tell him that I will pay his expenses, and also pay him for his time."
"I'll bring him back, sure," promised Judd, rising to go.
Then he drew near to Budd and whispered:
"Shall you allude to the visit of Bagsley and his gang to Fox Island, and what they said about Hope Island? That will be an important item, but it will give them the clew we are trying to follow up."
"No, it won't be necessary to mention that. At the worst they can only bind me over to a higher court, and before that trial can come off I believe we shall have found Bagsley, and that will clear me. I don't see how, after I have proved I was never on the island before to-day, they can hold me a single moment."
Judd held the same opinion, and hurried off to carry out his partner's request.
At ten o'clock the next morning the little village court-room was crowded, for criminal trials were a novelty then, and Budd's case had awakened a good deal of curiosity.
The Trial Justice was a little, fussy man, knowing far more about his grocery store down the street than he did about law; but he had put on a pompous air, and tried to manifest a dignity equal to the important occasion.