f money, on the night
when the letter should have arrived, according to the testimony of the
postmaster at Riverport, who distinctly remembered the address.

Then Ham was placed "on the gridiron," and slowly broiled by Squire
Pollard, the lawyer who managed my case. He was asked where he spent the
evening, what time he got home, when he had sorted the mail; and before
he was "done," he became considerably "mixed." But Ham's time had not
come yet, and he was permitted to step down.

Captain Fishley had testified that I had no means of obtaining money
honestly, and that I had run away. The captain seemed to be greatly
astonished when his brother was called to the witness stand for the
defence.

"Mr. Fishley, were you in Torrentville two months ago?" asked Squire
Pollard.

"I was," replied the senator.

"Did you see the defendant at that time?"

"Yes, sir."

"Did you give him any money?"

"Yes, sir."

"How much?"

"The young man drove me up from Riverport on the night in question. I
gave him between forty and fifty dollars at that time, and enough more
the next day to make a hundred dollars."

"You gave him a hundred dollars, in two payments?" repeated the lawyer,
glancing round at the crowd which filled the room.

"Yes, sir, that was the amount I gave him," replied Squire Fishley; but
I saw that he looked troubled.

"You gave him between forty and fifty dollars the first time?"

"Forty-six dollars, I think, was the exact amount."

"Could this have been the money which Ham Fishley saw the defendant
counting in the hay-loft?"

"I have no doubt it was, as I fix the time from the testimony of the
witnesses."

"Why did you pay the boy this large sum?" asked the justice.

"Because he had rendered me a very important service," answered the
senator, coloring deeply.

"What was that service?" continued the magistrate.

"I had the misfortune to fall into the river, and the young man saved my
life," added Squire Fishley, now very much embarrassed.

"Ah, indeed!" said the justice on the bench, nodding his head in full
satisfaction.

"But the defendant refused to tell where he got the money, and the
presumption was, that he stole it."

"I desired him not to mention the matter for reasons of my own."

"I submit, your honor," interposed Squire Pollard, "that this matter is
foreign to the case. Squire Fishley testifies that he gave the
defendant one hundred dollars, and that he desired the young man not t