hich
he was accustomed to shoot hawks and crows. The rifle had been
discharged. In looking about for evidence witness had found a cap lying
by a stump ten feet or so down hill. He identified the cap. He also took
a seat where Bobby and Johnny could see him--a short thickset man with
a swarthy complexion and very oily long black hair.

A witness was called who identified positively the cap as belonging to
Mr. Kincaid.

At this point the prosecution rested. A moment later Bobby heard again
the measured, calm tones of his friend, called in his own defence.

"I know nothing about it," said Mr. Kincaid after the usual
preliminaries, "I was nowhere near the scene of the murder. What the
first witness had to say as to personal antagonism between Pritchard and
myself was quite true: he had ordered me off his land, and very
offensively. We had some words at that time."

"When was that?" asked the attorney.

"Some months back. Therefore I took especial pains to keep off his land,
and was at the lower edge of the thicket a good quarter-mile from the
place his body was found."

"You did not enter the thicket?"

"Only a few feet, after the dog took my cap."

"How about the cap?"

"My retriever, Curly, was playing with me. I was teasing him by waving
the cap before him. He managed to get hold of it and ran with it into
the thicket. In a moment or so he came back without it. I could not
find it, nor could I induce him to retrieve it."

"When was this?"

"About two o'clock."

"Two witnesses have sworn they saw you come out of the thicket shortly
before sun-down."

"That was on my way home. I tried again to get Curly to hunt up the
cap."

"How do you account for the cap's being found at the upper edge of the
thicket?"

"I cannot account for it."

"Could the dog have carried it that far in the time before he returned?"

"I do not think so--I am certain not."

"How do you account for the holes?"

"They might have been the marks of Curley's teeth," said Mr. Kincaid
doubtfully.

"Look at them,"

A pause ensued.

"They certainly do not look like teeth marks," acknowledged Mr. Kincaid.

At this moment the heavy bell in the engine-house tower boomed out the
first strokes of noon. The boys nearly lost their holds from the
surprise of it. By the time they had recovered, court had been declared
adjourned, and the crowds were pouring forth from the opened double
doors.

XXIV

THE TRIAL (CONTINUED)

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