Page:Caroline Lockhart--The full of the Moon.djvu/242

 Rather as due the weight of his honorable office than from necessity, the judge settled a pair of nickel-plated spectacles upon his ruddy nose before he looked over the courtroom and inquired blandly:

"Has this here gent got ary lawyer to defend him?"

The question was purely a formal one, since it was well known that Bob was to appear for Ben, and the crowd which filled the improvised benches was due largely to curiosity arising from this fact.

Bob rose from his seat on a box, near the judicial keg.

"I am counsel for the defendant, your honor."

"Your honor!" The visible swelling of the judge's chest made him pitch backward. He regarded Bob severely:

"Air you a Jim-crow, or a reg'lar lawyer?"

"I have been regularly admitted to the New York bar."

The judge consulted a volume, pursed his lips, and considered.

"In which case," he said finally, "I reckon