Now the white face was slowly uncovered again and the staring eyes were fixed upon the Judge. “Carpenter came--I didn’t expect him--I told him I was short--I asked him to take the nuggets to the Mint--it was the only thing----” “Never once thought of old Gid?” The Judge wiped at his eyes with the back of a hand. “Oh, you’re too good to me!” Now Homer broke down and fell to sobbing. “Don’t do that.” The elder laid a kind hand on the shoulder of the younger. “No; it’s a-goin’ to be all right, boy. Only I won’t spoil you no more, you bet your life. I’ll come down turrible hard on you if ever you do this kind of business again. You just quit your gamblin’, Homer. If you don’t I’ll never let you marry Alicia.” “She wouldn’t marry me, Gid.” A knocking sounded from without, at the rear. “What’s that?” Homer caught the Judge’s sleeve in a frightened grasp. “It’s Mrs. Luce. I kept her in there, writin’, till I could git them nuggets back. Now, you skip. Go home. Here’s your hat. Stay there till I come. Now, don’t forgit.” He hurried the other to the front door, opened it and shoved him on to the sidewalk. Then, with long strides, he gained the rear yard. “By Jingo!” he called out. “Is that door stickin’, Mrs. Luce? You’re a shore enough prisoner! Wal, that’s a good one! Never mind. Come along. Where’s that statement?” Mrs. Luce handed him several sheets of foolscap. “I don’t think I’ve left anything out,” she said. “Can you read my awful writing?” When they were in the courtroom, in their former places, the Judge laid the written sheets upon his desk, leaned back, looked at her a moment silently, and then began to smile across at her. “Say!” he said. “You shore can’t take a josh.” “What d’ you mean?” “What I said to you when you first come in. How many people did you say you’d tole?” “The constable and you.” “That’s good. ’Cause if you’d tole anybody else I’d have to ask you to go an’ untell ’em.” Sudden hope came into her eyes. “Judge! You ain’t----” “Yas,” said the Judge. He dropped a big hand into his coat pocket once more. It came out, the nuggets dangling from it. In an instant she was beside him and had seized the string. “Glory!” she exclaimed. “Now, I’m goin’ to ask a favour of you,” said the Judge. “It’s this: Just forgit about the nuggets an’ Homer. Will you? The hull thing makes you look silly an’ wouldn’t help the boy.” “All right,” she promised. “My, but I’m happy!” She ran the nuggets through her fingers, fondling and counting them. The Judge watched her for a moment. Then his face suddenly brightened; he smiled in his slow way. “I wouldn’t wonder if Homer thought you tattled to Alicia about him playin’ cards with Jim at the Occidental.” “Yes, I did,” she admitted a little shamefacedly. “Wal, he’s got even with you.”