The sheriff sauntered up to them. Bill knew the purpose of his approach was to catch the drift of their conversation, so he turned abruptly, his hands in his back pockets, and grinned at Blodgett. Nodding toward Marvin, he drawled, "I'm a witness for him. I got to testify how you served a warrant on him." The sheriff glared and slouched over to his chair, throwing himself into it as he pulled his black sombrero down over his eyes. Marvin, his arm about Bill's shoulders, leaned over him, guiding him gently to the attorneys' table. "Well, Lightnin'," he questioned, in an indulgent voice, "how did you happen to show up here?" "I promised you, didn't I?" "But that was a long time ago. I supposed you'd forgotten all about it." Bill glanced quickly at him and smiled. "I ain't never forgotten nothin' since I was four years old." Marvin, happy to see the old Lightnin' behind the boast, smiled, asking him, "How did you know the trial was to-day?" "That's easy," Bill replied, as he sat against the edge of the table, steadying himself with his hands. "I seen it in a Reno paper at the Home." "But I told you the time I came to see you that you needn't bother about coming. I wouldn't have had you come all this long way for the world if I had known it." There was concern in Marvin's voice as he slowly dropped into a chair in front of Bill. "That's why I didn't say nothin'." "Where did the money come from?" "I saved my pension." Bill glanced slyly at him. Catching his questioning eye, he stopped and looked through the window into the distance. "You told me you sent your pension money to your wife!" "I did--some of it. I sent mother six dollars, but I didn't get no answer." The laughter went from Bill and he leaned over, looking toward the far hills, strange, unreal purple against the clear, cold blue of the April sky. Marvin watched him, asking, "Did you tell her you were in the Soldiers' Home?" "No." Bill's voice was devoid of inflection. "Then she probably didn't know where you were." "Where else could I be?" His lips were puckered into a whistle, although they were quivering and no tune came. It was always this way when he thought of mother, so he straightened himself and stood by Marvin's chair, forcing a smile to his lips and jerking out, "And six dollars is six dollars." The court-room was filling again, five minutes having elapsed since recess was declared. A side door opened and Townsend came into court. Blodgett stood up, pounded the desk with his gavel and announced the opening of the session. Bill and Marvin, rising to order, started and looked at each other as Thomas entered the room just behind the judge. Following him was Everett Hammond, who, when he saw Bill and Marvin together at the attorneys' table, began vigorous and anxious whispering in Thomas's ear as he took his place next to him on the other side of the table. Margaret Davis entered from the judge's chambers. She was accompanied by Mrs. Jones and Millie.