"Financial fiddlesticks!" exclaimed Mr. Rimmon, impulsively. "If good reputations were for sale at ten cents apiece, and they had all the privilege in the world to buy, they couldn't get enough to supply their own households." At this thoughtless speech a murmur of indignation ran over the spectators, and the postmaster realized that he had said more than he ought. "Excuse me, I do not wish to get mixed up in this affair; but I would like to see the boy have fair play." "Is Mr. Warfield in town?" asked a voice from the crowd. "He is not," replied Sheriff Brady, "but his private secretary, Mr. Jones, is here, prepared to speak for the colonel." "Order!" commanded Justice Claverton, at this juncture. "Who prefers the charges against the prisoner?" "I do," replied Morton Meiggs. "State them." "Criminal neglect of duty, theft of valuable letters, conduct unbecoming an employee of the United States Government." "Hum!" commented his honor. "State your case." Mr. Meiggs was then put under oath, when he told how the Hollow Tree mail had not been found in the mail pouch by its postmaster, but was later found in the possession of the postboy. He then described the disappearance of the registered letters, showing that while six could be traced as far as the Greenbrier office, only three reached the person for whom they were intended, Mr. Jason Warfield. "He has been very irregular in the performance of his duties, coming in some nights before his time, and on others an hour or more late. To-day he has capped the climax of his careless handling of the mail by coming over Greenbrier Mountain, through the woods, going the Lord only knows where. I forgot to mention that one day this week he actually left his horse, with the mail sack on its back, at least an hour, alone in the woods, while he explored a cave or did some such foolish thing, showing that he hasn't proper regard for the welfare of the property in his keeping." "John Dix Lewis, what have you to say to these charges?" "Not guilty, sir," replied the postboy. "I——" "Be careful how you put on airs, young man. You should remember that you are addressing the honorable court of the United States. Call your first witness, Mr. Meiggs." Dan Shag took the stand, confirming Meiggs' testimony in regard to the loss of the Hollow Tree mail and the finding of it in the postboy's keeping. "We have plenty of witnesses to prove the fact that the mail was in the pouch at Greenbrier," broke in Sheriff Brady. "I was present at——" The sheriff was interrupted at this moment by a great commotion near the door, and it soon became evident that some one was trying to force an entrance into the room. CHAPTER XIV. AN UNEXPECTED CLIMAX. "Order!" thundered "his honor." The command of the court received but slight attention, as one and all turned to see what the commotion meant.