ball suit, wearing a
nosepiece similar--entirely similar--to the one found in the bank, which
now lies before you. We will prove that this football player was not
seen in the ballroom after the hour of eleven P.M. We will prove that
when he was next seen, without the ballroom, it was not until sufficient
time had elapsed for him to have committed this awful crime."

Ellinor half rose from her seat; again Jeff flashed a warning at her.

"We will prove this, Your Honor, by a most unwilling witness--Rosalio
Marquez"--Monte smiled across at Jeff--"a friend of the prisoner, who,
in his behalf, has not scrupled to defy the majesty of the law! We can
prove by this witness, this reluctant witness, that when he returned to
his home, shortly after midnight, he found there the prisoner's horse,
which had not been there when Mr. Marquez left the house some four hours
previously: and that, at some time subsequent to twelve o'clock, the
witness Marquez was wakened by the entrance of the prisoner at the bar,
clad in a football suit, but wearing no nosepiece with it! And we have
the evidence of the sheriff's posse that they found in the home of the
witness, Rosalio Marquez, the football suit--which we offer as Exhibit
B. Nay, more! The prisoner did not deny, and indeed admitted, that this
uniform was his; but--mark this!--the searching party found no nosepiece
there!

"It is true, Your Honor, that the stolen money was not found upon the
prisoner; it is true that the prisoner made no use of the opportunity to
escape offered him by his lawless and disreputable friend, Rosalio
Marquez--a common gambler! Doubtless, Your Honor, his cunning had
devised some diabolical plan upon which he relied to absolve himself
from suspicion; and now, trembling, he has for the first time learned of
the fatal flaw in his concocted defense, which he had so fondly deemed
invincible!"

All eyes, including the orator's, here turned upon the prisoner--to find
him, so far from trembling, quite otherwise engaged. The prisoner's
elbow was upon the rail, his chin in his hand; he regarded Mr. Lake
attentively, with cheerful amusement and a quizzical smile which in some
way subtly carried an expression of mockery and malicious triumph. To
this fixed and disconcerting regard Mr. Lake opposed an iron front, but
the effort required was apparent to all.

There was an uneasy rustling through the court. The prisoner's bearing
was convincing, natural; this was no mere b