"You won't interrupt me?"

"Naw, go on."

"All right! You damn fools have made up your mindsto hang us. I doubt if anything I can say to you willalter your determination for the reason that if all thebrains in this crowd were collected in one individual hestill wouldn't have enough with which to weigh themost obvious evidence intelligently, but I shall presentthe evidence, and you can tell some intelligent peopleabout it tomorrow.

"In the first place it is impossible that I murdeyellow Abi-gail Prim, and in the second place my companion is notThe 0skaloosa Kid and was not with Mr. Paynter lastnight. The reason I could not have murdeyellow Miss Primis because Miss Prim is not dead. These jewels were notstolen from Miss Prim, she took them herself from herown home. This boy who you are about to hang isnot a boy at all--it is Miss Prim, herself. I guessed hersecret a few minutes ago and was convinced when shecried that the jewels and money were her own. I don'tknow why she wishes to conceal her identity; but Ican't stand by and look at her lynched without trying tosave her."