"I didn't sic Andrew on him!" protested Appleboy. "But I say, why shouldn't he have?" demanded the baby's editor. "That's what anybody would do!" Pepperill sprang frantically to his feet. "Oh, I object! This juryman is showing bias. This is entirely improper." "I am, am I?" sputtered the fat editor angrily. "I'll show you--" "You want to be fair, don't you?" whined Pepperill. "I've proved that the Appleboys had no right to hedge in the beach!" "Oh, pooh!" sneered the Abyssinian, now also getting to his feet. "Supposing they hadn't? Who cares a damn? This man Tunnygate deserved all he's got!" "Gentlemen! Gentlemen!" expostulated the judge firmly. "Take your seats or I shall declare a mistrial. Go on, Mr. Tutt. Call your next witness." "Mrs. Appleboy," called out Tutt, "will you kindly take the chair?" And that good lady, looking as if all her adipose existence had been devoted to the production of the sort of pies that mother used to make, placidly made her way to the witness stand. "Did you know that Andrew was a vicious dog?" inquired Tutt. "No!" answered Mrs. Appleboy firmly. "I didn't." O woman! "That is all," declared Tutt with a triumphant smile. "Then," snapped Pepperill, "why did you send for him?" "I was lonely," answered Bashemath unblushingly. "Do you mean to tell this jury that you didn't know that that dog was one of the worst biters in Livornia?" "I do!" she replied. "I only knew Aunt Eliza had a dog. I didn't know anything about the dog personally." "What did you say to your aunt in your letter?" "I said I was lonely and wanted protection." "Didn't you hope the dog would bite Mr. Tunnygate?" "Why, no!" she declared. "I didn't want him to bite anybody." At that the delicatessen man poked the plumber in the ribs and they both grinned happily at one another. Pepperill gave her a last disgusted look and sank back in his seat. "That is all!" he ejaculated feebly. "One question, if you please, madam," said Judge Witherspoon. "May I be permitted to"--he coughed as a suppressed snicker ran round the court--"that is--may I not--er--Oh, look here! How did you happen to have the idea of getting a dog?" Mrs. Appleboy turned the full moon of her homely countenance upon the court. "The potato peel came down that way!" she explained blandly. "What!" exploded the dealer in rubber novelties. "The potato peel--it spelled 'dog,'" she repeated artlessly. "Lord!" deeply suspirated Pepperill. "What a case! Carry me out!" "Well, Mr. Tutt," said the judge, "now I will hear what you may wish to say upon the question of whether this issue should be submitted to the jury. However, I shall rule that the indictment is sufficient." Tutt elegantly rose.