f, as a member of the bar, I protest! Why don't you clear the
building?" He did not wait for Betts to answer him, but continued.
"Where is this man Hues?"

"Yonder, Colonel, by the captain," said Betts.

"I have a warrant for his arrest. You will take him into custody."

"Wait!" cried the judge. "I represent Mr. Hues. I desire to see that
warrant!"

But Fentress ignored him. He addressed the crowded benches.

"Gentlemen, it is a serious matter forcibly to seize a man without
authority from the courts and expose him to the danger of mob
violence--Mr. Hues will learn this before we have done with him."

Instantly there was a noisy demonstration that swelled into a burst
of applause, which quickly spent itself. The struggle seemed to have
narrowed to an individual, contest for supremacy between Fentress and
the judge. On the edge of the railed off space they confronted each
other: the colonel, a tall, well-cared-for presence; the judge shabby
and unkempt. For a moment their eyes met, while the judge's face purpled
and paled, and purpled again. The silence deepened. Fentress' thin lips
opened, twitched, but no sound came from them; then his glance wavered
and fell. He turned away.

"Mr. Sheriff!" he called sharply.

"All right, Colonel!"

"Take your man into custody," ordered Fentress. As he spoke he handed
the warrant to Betts, who looked at it, grinned, and stepped toward
Hues. He would have pushed the judge aside had not that gentleman,
bowing civilly, made way for him.

"In my profound respect for the law and properly constituted authority I
yield to no man, not even to Colonel Fentress," he said, with a gracious
gesture. "I would not place the slightest obstacle in the way of its
sanctioned manifestation. Colonel Fentress comes here with that high
sanction." He bowed again ceremoniously to the colonel. "I repeat, I
respect his dependence upon the law!" He whirled suddenly.

"Cavendish--Yancy--Carrington--I call upon you to arrest John Murrell! I
do this by virtue of the authority vested in me as a judge of the United
States Federal Court. His crime--a mere trifle, my friends--passing
counterfeit money! Colonel Fentress will inform you that this is a
violation of the law which falls within my jurisdiction," and he beamed
blandly on Fentress.

"It's a lie!" cried the colonel.

"You'll answer for that later!" said the judge, with abrupt austerity of
tone.

"For all we know you may be some fugitive from j