"Gentlemen, I am innocent of this crime. My name is Allen Allston. I live in Boomville. Hundreds of people there know me, and can tell you what my reputation is. Why, I should not have the slightest trouble in proving an alibi. If you murder me, you will all bitterly regret it some day. You do not want to commit a murder; you want to do what you think an act of justice. You are making an awful mistake; give me a chance, and I will prove it." These words had a visible effect upon the desperate men. They began to converse together in a low tone--all but the man who had followed Al; he stood aloof from the rest. "See here," he presently said, in a voice that Al noticed trembled slightly, "if you gents have any more time to fool away here I haven't. I don't propose to get into any trouble through this thing. I have tried to do you a service, but you don't seem to appreciate it." "We don't want to make any mistake," said the spokesman. "But you're not making any mistake. Don't I tell you I know the boy, that he is the same one that sold me the horse last week?" Here Al interposed. "Do you claim," he asked, "that you are the farmer to whom the horse thief sold one of the stolen animals last week?" "I do; and I recognize you as the person. It's no use, my fine fellow, the jig's up. I've been shadowing you for some time, and I've got you down fine." Al turned to the group of men, who had been listening in silence to the brief dialogue. "Gentlemen," he said, "do any of you know the farmer who bought the horse from the thief? Could any one of you swear to his identity?" The spokesman replied, this time using a gentler tone than before. "No, my lad," he said, "not one of us ever saw the man until to-night." "You don't see him now," said Al. "I do not believe that this is the man at all. He is some enemy of mine, who has imposed upon you for his own personal ends." "Bah!" interrupted the subject of discussion, "are we to stand here all night listening to this sort of stuff? The young villain is only trying to gain time. Of course, if he will steal, he will lie." "All I ask is a fair trial," said Al, "but I see I cannot get that here. However, gentlemen, if you must kill some one, don't kill the wrong man. It looks to me a good deal as if this fellow were the real thief, and that he was trying to throw dust in your eyes. None of you ever saw him before, you say. Now, perhaps I have seen him. Let me see his face; it may be that I can identify him." "That's fair enough." "That's all right." "Off with your mask, stranger, and let the boy see your face." It was evident that the sentiment of the crowd was turning in Al's favor. "Why should I show him my face?" said the boy's accuser. "All the rest of you are masked." "We'll take off our masks if you take off yours," said the spokesman. "Eh, boys?" "Ay! ay!" came from the others. Still the stranger hesitated.