Page:The traitor; a story of the fall of the invisible empire (IA traitorstoryoffa00dixo).pdf/338

 vault of the Graham house the night of this murder?"

Isaac's jaw dropped, he drew his red bandanna handkerchief and mopped his brow.

A hum of excitement ran over the court room, and an officer cried:

"Silence!"

Isaac continued to mop his brow and fumble at his handkerchief while he gazed at the lawyer in a helpless stupor.

"Answer my question, sir!" the towering figure thundered into his face.

"I doan know what yer means, sah," he faltered.

"Yes you do. There were nine other men with you. Who were they?"

"I dunno, sah!"

Larkin whispered excitedly to Steve, who shook his head and gazed at Isaac in amazement.

"Were they masked so that you couldn't see their faces?"

Isaac looked appealingly to the judges and whimpered:

"I doan know what dey er talkin' 'bout, sah."

"You must answer the questions," said the Judge.

The lawyer glared at Isaac whose shifting eyes sought Larkin.

"Think it over a minute, Isaac," the lawyer continued; "in the meantime examine that knife."