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 his guards, who had released him from any manacle which they might have used. He squared his shoulders and lifted his head in a bit of obvious bravado that became him and gave him an air of superiority to his jailing, which was increased by the smart and immaculate appearance of his new, brown suit. His attractive, flaxen hair had been recently trimmed; he had just been shaved and his clear, flawless skin shone pink in the flush of his excitement.

Upon sight of him, Max Elmen immediately arose; Herman arose together with a couple of clerks who accompanied him. Joan Daisy Royle jumped to her feet with a quick, eager exclamation which brought up every one about her. Some one cleared the way before him, and as he stepped toward his place, for the moment he was more like a prince than a prisoner come to court.

Max Elmen warmly extended his hand; Herman imitated his father. The Royle girl gave both her hands to Ketlar's grasp and others pressed to him. The Nesson girl was there.

Calvin Clarke saw the controlled countenance of the woman who, under the light of the street lamp, had asked him for Ketlar's child. She was standing a few feet away, but with all her being intent upon her son, as she had stood at the hearing on the habeas corpus and when she had followed him to jail, never obtruding herself.

Calvin looked quickly away and caught up a paper from his table.

A door in the paneled north wall opened, and every one in the court-room arose as the judge, in his robe, strode from his chambers; and there rolled, in the hush, the heavy rhythm of old phrases heralding that the court was in session; but the judge's entrance was far less impressive than had been the prisoner's.

A clerk handed the judge the inevitable document