“Well, Mr. Newton, you have had your way—your son is here, and some other friends, I presume. Now I demand that this man be locked up on the charge I make against him,” he went on. “Deputy, you can do your duty.” “Just a moment,” put in Mr. Plum suavely. “I represent the defendant in this case. I ask to examine the warrant.” “You can’t see it!” snapped out Mr. Fawn. “Oh, yes, he can,” said the deputy sheriff who had served it. “That is always the privilege of the defendant’s lawyer.” “Oh, well, all right,” snapped the accusing manager of the concern. Mr. Plum glanced over the document, which was brief, and, in effect, charged Mr. Newton with embezzling, converting to his own use, stealing, taking and carrying away certain valuable property of the National Investment Company, to wit Liberty Bonds to the value of thirty-thousand dollars. “This is a bailable offense,” said the lawyer. “We ask to be taken before a magistrate with the power of fixing bail.” “He ought to be taken to jail—that’s where he ought to be taken! And he would be if I had my way!” snapped Mr. Fawn. “That will do, Mr. Fawn,” sternly said the president of the concern, Amos Bell. “This is a very serious matter,” he went on. “Mr. Newton is an old friend of mine. I must insist that strict justice be done him.” “Thank you,” said Ned’s father feelingly. “He has a right to bail,” said the deputy. “Judge Klein is sitting at the court house now. I can take him before him.” “Then we’ll go at once,” said Mr. Plum. A little later they were before the bar of justice—Mr. Newton a little pale, but standing firm and upright. Ned flushed and indignant, with many a vindictive look at the manager of the investment company. Tom was clutching the bundle of notes in his pocket. The lawyer seemed to take it all as a matter of course. “What is this case?” asked the old and learned judge, and when it had been explained and when he had read the accusation in the warrant, he said: “I take it that you do not wish to plead now.” “Yes, your honor, we do!” interposed Mr. Plum. “I wish to enter a plea of not guilty for my client. We waive arraignment now, and ask that he be admitted to bail, which we are prepared to furnish in any amount.” “Um,” murmured the court. “I see he is accused of taking bonds to the value of thirty-three thousand dollars. I believe I must fix bail at ten thousand dollars.” There was a gasp from Ned. Mr. Newton seemed to turn a trifle paler. Tom whispered hoarsely to his chum: “Great bean pots! I brought only five thousand dollars with me!” CHAPTER V IVAN BARSKY MR. PLUM did not seem startled, nor even much impressed, by the judge’s announcement of the large amount of bail he would require to set Mr. Newton free. Perhaps the lawyer was accustomed to such matters for his clients. At any rate, as Tom said afterward, “he never turned a hair,” but turned to Mr. Newton and asked: