for the murder of Mrs. Darcy. I don't know what this unexpected move
on the part of the prosecutor means, but I would like to see you."


"Whew!" whistled the colonel. "I never counted on _this_. Maybe the
prosecution has something up their sleeve they're waiting to spring.
They're trying to get ahead of me. Well, by gad, sir, they shan't!
I'll beat 'em yet. This trip West will have to wait. Shag, you keep
this auto here. I'm going into the hotel to telephone."

"Yes, sah, Colonel!"

Getting Kenneth on the wire, the detective ascertained that the message
from Darcy was correct--the trial was to go on unexpectedly.

"I may be able to get a postponement," said the lawyer, "but it would
not be safe to count on it. We had better prepare our defense. Are
you all ready, Colonel?"

"Not quite. I've got to get a certain man back here from the West, but
I can send for him. I'll not go myself, it's too risky. See what you
can do about getting a postponement. It will be so much better if we
can. I was going to tell Miss Mason to go and give some good news to
Darcy, but maybe I'd better wait now."

"Can you produce the real murderer, Colonel Ashley?"

"I can, Mr. Kenneth. Don't let that worry you. When I want him I can
lay my hands on the real murderer! He can't get away! We'll have our
little surprise, too!"

"Good! That will make Darcy feel better. I think I'll go to see him!"

"All right. And if you want to arrange for Miss Mason to visit him I
think it would be a good thing. He may never go to trial, and then
again he might, and, as you never can count on legal tangles, all the
sentiment you can work up in his favor will be so much gained. You
might let a discreet reporter know about Miss Mason's going to the
jail."

"I will, Colonel, and thanks for the tip!"

But James Darcy did not go to trial the next day. Up to the last
minute it looked as though he would, and he was even brought down from
jail to the courtroom where a great crowd had assembled in anticipation
of the opening of the now celebrated case.

But, when the judge took his place on the bench, and the criers had
proclaimed silence, there was a whispered conference among the
prosecutor and his detectives, in which Carroll and Thong took part.
Then the judge was consulted and Darcy's lawyer was called to the
bench. He was observed to be protesting against something, and finally
the prosecutor went back to his seat at the table opposite the one
where Darcy sat with his counsel.

"Have you any cases to move this morning, Mr. Prosecutor?" asked the
court in formal tones.

"May it please your Honor," began Mr. Bardon, "I had hoped to move the
case of the State against James Darcy, indicted for murder, but, at the
last minute, I find that one of my important witnesses is unable to be
in attendance and, under those circumstances, I am compelled to ask for
an adjournment of two weeks.

"I regret, as regards the counsel on the other side, having to do this,
as he assures me he is ready and anxious to go to trial, but it is
unavoidable, and I promise this, that if the witness referred to is not
here two weeks from to-day, I will go on with the case anyhow."

"Have you anything to say, Mr. Kenneth?" asked the judge of Darcy's
lawyer.

"Only that I regret the delay as much as does the prosecutor, and that
we will be ready any time. I should prefer to go on with the trial
now, but I realize that the matter is out my hands."

"The case then stands adjourned for two weeks," announced the court,
and the officer, arising, announced:

"The case of the State against James Darcy postponed for two weeks, and
all witnesses for the prosecution and for the defence will then appear
without further notice."

There was a hum of disappointment, and most of the crowd filed out when
the prosecutor moved a case of assault and battery. Darcy, with a look
at Amy Mason, which she returned with one of assurance and confidence,
was taken back to jail.

Colonel Ashley read:

"Let your bait be as big a red worm as you can find."

"Spotty is certainly red," mused the fisherman. He was sitting, after
the adjournment, in his hotel room. "Red and freckled. As for bait--"

Musingly he closed the little green book and watched the smoke curl
lazily from his cigar.

Several days went by. The colonel was seated in his hotel room, his
finger between the leaves of a little green book, smoking and reading.


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