don't know
as I ever saw a more provoking man. I been keepin' an eye on him--his
eyebrows, the corners of his eyes, the corners of his mouth, his
shoulder-shrugging, and his elbows, and his teeth and his toes. Mr.
Wade, your moldy old saw about a fool for a client was never more
misplaced. This man can out talk you and never open his mouth. I'd
leave him alone if I was you--he might make a fool of you."

Johnny half opened his mouth. The judge regarded him sternly. The
mouth closed hastily. Johnny dimpled. The judge's hammer fell with a
crash.

"I give you both fair notice right now," said Judge Hinkle, "if you
start any more of this quarreling I'm goin' to slap on a fine that'll
bring a blister."

Johnny rose timidly and addressed the court.

"Your Honor, I'm aimin' to 'tend strictly to my knittin' from now
on. But if I should make a slip, and you do have to fine me--couldn't
you make it a jail sentence instead? I'm awful short of money, Your
Honor."

He reached behind him and hitched up the tail of his vest with both
hands, delicately; this accomplished, he sank into his chair, raised
his trousers gently at the knee and gazed about him innocently.

"My Honor will be--"

The judge bit the sentence in two, leaving the end in doubt; he
regarded the prisoner with baleful attention. The prisoner gazed
through a window. The judge beckoned to Mr. Gwinne, who sat on the
front seat between See and Hobby Lull. Mr. Gwinne came forward. The
judge leaned across the desk.

"Mr. Gwinne, do you feed this prisoner well?"

"Yes, sir."

"About what, now, for instance?"

"Oh--beefsteak, ham and eggs, _enchilados_, canned stuff--most
anything."

"Mr. Gwinne, if I told you to put this prisoner on a strict ration,
would you obey orders?"

"I certainly would."

"That's all," said the judge. "Thank you. Mr. Dines, you may go on
with the case. The witness may answer the question. Objection
overruled. State your question again, Mr. Dines."

"Mr. Hales, will you tell His Honor what color was the calf I branded
in Redgate Canyon, day before yesterday, about two o'clock in the
afternoon?"

"I don't know," answered Hales sulkily.

"Oh! You didn't see it, then?"

"No."

"Then you are not able to state that it was a calf belonging to Adam
Forbes?"

"No."

Johnny's eyes sought the window. "Nor whether it was a calf or a
yearling?"

"Of course not."

"Did you see me brand the calf?"

"I did not!" Hales spat out the