teadily in another direction.

The court was occupied with another case, and in answer to Sam's
question Mr. Hunter said that his trial would not begin until it was
finished.

"If it'll hold on 'till to-morrow so's to give Skip a fair chance of
gettin' here, I'll be willin' to sit in this chair all night," Joe
whispered to Fred.

"It can't be delayed very long, or Mr. Hunter would tell us," was the
mournful reply.

"S'pose I slip out an' watch for him? He won't know where to come if
there's nobody in the office."

This Fred thought was a very good idea, and he suggested it to the
lawyer, who said:

"The constable knows that he is needed here, therefore they will put in
an appearance immediately after arriving."

Five minutes later Sam was called upon to plead, and he answered firmly:

"Not guilty."

Then the cashier was summoned to the stand, and told his story
correctly, except as to the latter portion, when he said that Fred
appeared very nervous during the time his friend was absent. He also
declared that the two boys made mysterious signs to each other, and in a
variety of ways appeared guilty.

The teller of the bank, Mr. Wright, the constable who made the arrest,
and one or two others gave evidence, and when the prosecution closed
matters looked very black for the prisoner.

Then Sam himself was called to the stand, and for half an hour underwent
a most searching examination. He described very minutely the journey to
Blacktown; related every particular connected with his receiving the
money, and explained why he chose to walk home, when, by waiting a short
time, it would have been possible to ride on the cars.

That he had the money two or three moments before reaching the
newly-discovered vein he was very positive. He had not intended to go to
sleep when he laid down to rest. On awakening it was several moments
before the loss was discovered, and then he searched in every direction.

Over and over again he told what is already known, and when the
testimony was finished, it could be seen from the faces of those around,
that the story was not generally believed.

Then Fred was called upon to tell of the chase and capture, after which
Joe took the stand.

Had Skip been there the prisoner's case would have been strengthened
just so much; but he yet remained absent, and even Mr. Hunter looked
disheartened.

The miner was kept on the stand as long as possible, in the hope the
missing one might com