Budd, already aware that the Justice seemed to favor the prosecution, simply stated in his argument for the defense what he had proved by his witnesses, and that that acquitted him of the special charge included in the warrant. He alluded to the general good character he had borne since he came into the neighborhood, and concluded with the words:
"I am innocent of the crime with which I am accused. My father is also innocent of the crime for which he is in prison to-day. One link in the chain of establishing his innocence I have already discovered. Whatever may be the decision of the Court to-day respecting myself, as sure as there is a just God in Heaven, a few weeks more will see every shadow of disgrace swept away from our names."
So positive were the lad's tones, so triumphant his gestures, so confident his looks, that many of the audience were thrilled as though they heard a voice of prophecy--a prophecy soon to be fulfilled.
The Justice may himself have felt, somewhat, the influence of the lad's declaration, for he gathered up his papers with an unsteady hand, and looked uneasily about the room and into the upturned faces waiting for his decision. The stillness grew oppressive. Finally the eye of the Justice rested upon Mr. Johnson, who was gazing expectantly up into the little man's face, and the great and wealthy man's wish became the law of the baser one's soul:
"I think," he said, speaking sharply and looking directly at Mr. Johnson, "there is sufficient probability of the prisoner's guilt to warrant my binding him over to the higher court, which meets at the county seat in November."
Then, to Budd:
"I'll fix your bond at one thousand dollars, and unless you can furnish a bondsman I will have to commit you to the county jail to await your trial."
[CHAPTER XIII.--MR. BENTON'S LITTLE GAME.]
Budd was partially prepared for the Trial Justice's decision, as it was but the natural result of the bias he had shown in his rulings; but the excessive amount of the bond astonished him and filled him with alarm. He had thought, in case he was bound over to the higher court, the bond would be fixed at a few hundred dollars, and that some of his or Judd's friends would be willing to become surety for so small an amount; but when the Justice named the sum of one thousand dollars he felt there was but one alternative--he must go to jail.
His alarm at the prospect was not due so much to the fact that he shrunk from confinement in the jail as that the confinement would defeat his whole plans. Just as he had some hope of proving his father's innocence, and of rescuing him from an unjust imprisonment, his hopes were to be ruthlessly crushed, his purpose thwarted, and he himself stigmatized as a criminal. It was with difficultly that he could restrain the hot tears that were struggling to flow.