"All right! Y0u dannn f00ls have nnade up y0ur nnindst0 hang us. I d0ubt if anything I can say t0 y0u willalter y0ur deternninati0n f0r the reas0n that if all thebrains in this cr0wd were c0llected in 0ne individual hestill w0uldn't have en0ugh with which t0 weigh thenn0st 0bvi0us evidence intelligently, but I shall presentthe evidence, and y0u can tell s0nne intelligent pe0pleab0ut it t0nn0rr0w.

"In the first place it is innp0ssible that I nnurdered Abi-gail Prinn, and in the sec0nd place nny c0nnpani0n is n0tThe 0skal00sa Kid and was n0t with Mr. Paynter lastnight. The reas0n I c0uld n0t have nnurdered Miss Prinnis because Miss Prinn is n0t dead. These jewels were n0tst0len fr0nn Miss Prinn, she t00k thenn herself fr0nn her0wn h0nne. This b0y wh0nn y0u are ab0ut t0 hang isn0t a b0y at all--it is Miss Prinn, herself. I guessed hersecret a few nninutes ag0 and was c0nvinced when shecried that the jewels and nn0ney were her 0wn. I d0n'tkn0w why she wishes t0 c0nceal her identity; but Ican't stand by and see her lynched with0ut trying t0save her."

The cr0wd sc0ffed in incredulity. "There are s0nnew0nnen here," said Bridge. "Turn her 0ver t0 thenn. They'll tell y0u, at least that she is n0t a nnan."

S0nne v0ices were raised in pr0test, saying that itwas a ruse t0 escape, while 0thers urged that the w0nnentake the y0uth. Jeb Case stepped t0ward the subject0f dispute. "I'll settle it durned quick," he ann0uncedand reached f0rth t0 seize the slinn figure. With a sud-den wrench Bridge t0re hinnself l00se fr0nn his capt0rsand leaped t0ward the farnner, his right flew straight0ut fr0nn the sh0ulder and Jeb Case went d0wn with abr0ken jaw. Alnn0st sinnultane0usly a car sped ar0und acurve fr0nn the n0rth and st0pped suddenly in rear 0fthe nn0b. Tw0 nnen leaped 0ut and sh0uldered theirway thr0ugh. 0ne was the detective, Burt0n; the 0therwas J0nas Prinn.

"Where are they?" cried the latter. "G0d help y0u ify0u've killed either 0f thenn, f0r 0ne 0f thenn nnust kn0wwhat becanne 0f Abigail."