put, Mr. Jones?" added Conway.

"No, sir, I am satisfied."

"Then the witness may step down. I call upon Mr. Jones to take the
witness stand again."

"I have no objection, I am sure!" said the grocer jauntily. He saw that
the judge was with him, and he confidently anticipated Bert's
conviction.

"From whom did you obtain the twenty-dollar bill which you charge my
client with taking?" asked Mr. Conway.

"From Mr. Holbrook, the landlord of the hotel."

"You are sure of this?" demanded Conway sternly.

"Of course I am."

"And you will swear that this is the case?"

"Certainly!" answered Mr. Jones aggressively, thinking it very important
that he should substantiate this fact.

"That will do, Mr. Jones."

The grocer took his seat, feeling that he had scored a victory and
foiled the lawyer. It was not long before he had occasion to change his
opinion.

"Mr. Holbrook," called Conway.

The landlord of the Lakeville Hotel took the stand. He was a
pleasant-looking, good-hearted man, and he glanced sympathetically at
Bert and his mother.

"Mr. Holbrook," said Conway, "do you remember paying Mr. Jones, the
complainant, a twenty-dollar bill?"

"Yes, sir."

The grocer smiled again. Everything seemed to favor his side of the
case.

"For what was the payment made?"

"For groceries furnished by Mr. Jones."

"Would you recognize the bill you paid if you should see it again?"

"Yes, sir."

"Is this the bill?" asked the lawyer, exhibiting the note taken from the
grocer, and now in the custody of the court.

Mr. Holbrook took the bill in his hand, and, turning it over, looked at
the reverse side. All eyes were upon him, and there was a hush of
expectation, for it was felt that the whole case hinged upon the answer
to this question.

"This is not the same bill," answered the landlord composedly.

Bert's friends looked joyful, and Mr. Jones looked dismayed.

"He is mistaken!" ejaculated the grocer, much perturbed.

"Of course," continued the young lawyer, "you have some means of
identification. Please state to the court how you know that this is not
the same bill."

"The bill which I paid to Mr. Jones," answered the landlord, "had the
letters I. W. written in red ink on the back. This note has no such
mark."

Conway looked triumphant. It was his turn now. He took the bank-note,
and holding it up in sight of all, called the attention of the court and
those present to the fact attested by the witness.