"Who?"
"Judge Donelson."
"But he's the Federal judge, and he lives way over in Hillsville," objected Rale. "Judge Clasp is nearer. In a case of this kind when the judge of a district is unavailable, the nearest judge takes over the district. The statutes——"
"The statutes say 'any judge,'" interrupted Billy Wingo. "On this point I am quite clear. I looked it up to make sure. 'Any judge' means 'any judge.' Nothing else. And you know that Judge Donelson is a territorial as well as Federal Judge. Technicalities can't pull your wagon out of this hole, Arthur, old settler."
"I shall send for Judge Clasp at once," bumbled Arthur, old settler.
"If you send right away, he should be here by day after to-morrow. Yep, day after to-morrow at the earliest."
"Judge Donelson can't get here till the day after that," said Rale triumphantly.
"Oh, he can't, can't he?" smiled Billy. "Unless he has an accident he'll be here to-morrow. You see, Arthur, I started Riley Tyler off to Hillsville ten minutes after I arrested Slike. That's why I'm gamblin' that Judge Donelson will get here first."
The district attorney openly lost his temper. "I don't regard the evidence as given sufficient for indictment. I shall ask the judge not to hold him."
"Don't do anything rash, Arthur. Remember the hearing will be at the Walton ranch to-morrow afternoon."