not particularly interesting. There was no doubt that
Fletcher was at least obstinately defended, for the lawyer once more
strove skillfully to twist out answers confirming the theory that his
client had no direct connection with the affair, and sought to show on my
part a deliberate intention to ruin him. He may even have believed the
romantic story, which was particularly calculated to appeal to a Western
jury.

Jasper's replies did not, however, help him much, for when, returning to
the subject, he asked, "Did you not on several occasions drive the witness
Lorimer over to Fletcher's dwelling with presents for his wife?" Jasper
answered boldly, "I did, and I guess Mrs. Fletcher would have gone hungry
if we hadn't. Fletcher's a low-grade wastrel, and anyway he ate most of
them presents. Yes, sir; they were fowls and potatoes, and Lorimer never
went over but Fletcher was there."

There was a great laugh from the riders of Carrington, and the defendant's
lawyer frowned.

"Are you a friend of the witness Lorimer?"

"I hope so," Jasper answered simply. "If ever I meet you on the prairie
I'll endeavor to convince you."

"Were you a friend of Thomas Fletcher's?"

The answer was emphatic. "No. I guess the sight of the insect makes me
sick."

Again the lawyer smiled toward the jury, and the judge, censuring the
witness, directed him to refrain from unnecessary details. The next
question came:

"Was it because you were a friend of Lorimer's, or had such a bitter
dislike to Fletcher, that one night you attempted to murder him? Let me
remind you that Fletcher, as has been admitted, came to bring back his
wife from Fairmead, and was threatened with a rifle there. Then you rode
after him, and overtook him on the prairie where it was lonely."

"It was for neither reason," Jasper answered, straightening his burly form
as he glared at his adversary. "A young girl bluffed off Fletcher and the
other ruffian there, the prisoner Gorst. She was alone, but she scared the
pair of them with an empty rifle. Suppose you left your sister alone, and
came back to find a half-drunk hobo trying to murder her?"

The lawyer, I fancied, had now heard rather more than he knew before, and
it struck me that the prisoner's cunning had overreached itself in not
posting him better, for he glanced at his papers before continuing:

"Did you make a violent attack upon him?"

"I did," said Jasper, cheerfully. "Oh, yes, and I'm coming to it in my o