For two hours Jim had been rehearsing his Speech. He arose.
"Your Honor," he began.
At the Sound of that Voice, a scared Silence fell upon the Court Room.
It was like the Lower Octave of a Pipe Organ.
"Your Honor," said Jim, "we are ready for Trial."
The musical Rumble filled the Spacious Room and went echoing through
the Corridors. The Sound beat out through the Open Windows and checked
Traffic in the Street. It sang through the Telegraph Wires and lifted
every drooping Flag.
[Illustration: _Learned Colleague._]
The Jurors turned Pale and began to quiver. Opposing Counsel were as
white as a Sheet. Their mute and frightened Faces seemed to ask, "What
are we up against?"
Jim sat down and the Trial got under way.
Whenever Jim got his Cue he arose and said, "Your Honor and Gentlemen
of the Jury, I quite agree with my learned Colleague."
Then he would relapse and throw on a Socrates Frown and the Other
Side would go all to Pieces. Every time Jim cleared his Throat, you
could hear a Pin drop. There was no getting away from the dominating
Influence of the Master Mind.
The Jury was out only 10 Minutes. When the Verdict was rendered,
the Runt, who had provided everything except the Air Pressure, was
nearly trampled under foot in the general Rush to Congratulate the
distinguished Attorney from the East. The Little Man gathered up his
Books and did the customary Slink, while the False Alarm stood in
awful Silence and permitted the Judge and others to shake him by the
Hand.
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