was promptly squelched
by the magistrate, to DeRue Hannington's undisguised pleasure.

The case against Jim was read. He pleaded guilty, refusing lawyer's
aid or the privilege of stepping into the witness box. There were no
dramatics--at least not until the police magistrate pronounced the
sentence.

"James Langford," he droned severely, "have you ever been tried before
for a criminal act of any kind?"

"No, sir!"

"This is your first offence?"

"No, sir!--but the first time I've been caught."

"Now, Jim,--that'll do!" reprimanded the magistrate, forgetting his
courtly dignity for the moment and breaking into a grin; for Jim and
he were cronies of long standing.

"I deeply regret that I cannot give you the benefit of the First
Offender's Act. These boyish pranks of yours must be put down. You
will be breaking windows and riding your horse on the sidewalk next if
we allow you to go on in this way, unpunished. You are a big lad now
and it is high time you were beginning to take life seriously."

Hannington nodded his head approvingly, and clasped his hands over his
stomach.

"In pronouncing sentence, I hope you will take this lesson to heart
and that this will be your last appearance before this or any other
Court of Justice.

"I fine you fifty dollars and costs, and command that you wash and
scrub Percival DeRue Hannington's mare, between the hours of two and
four p.m. in front of the Court House, every day, until the animal is
restored to its natural colour."

A wild laugh and a great shuffling of feet greeted the sentence.

DeRue Hannington sprang up indignantly, his face bursting red with
anger.

"But sir--but sir--I--I! Fifty dollars?--why--I paid one thousand
dollars to get him here. Your Honour, it is a positive scandal--a
perfect outrage!"

"Silence, sir!" commanded the magistrate.

"But it is an outrage, sir. I insist--it is a low, beastly trick. I
appeal--I----"

"Silence!" roared the magistrate again. "One word more, sir, and I'll
commit you for contempt of Court. Next case!"

At the Court House door the crowd seized upon Jim, hoisted him on
their shoulders and carried him down Main Street, singing and
chaffing as happily as if Jim had just won an election.

At the Commercial Bank Jim stopped them and beckoned to Phil.

"Say!--get your thousand dollars out of the Bank and we'll have the
crowd take us to Dalton's office right away. I got Hannington's
cheque, marked O.K., from Ben Todd