Without crooking,
his right arm swept out and down, the heavy caulking-mallet leaping
from his hand. It spanned the short distance and smote Jacob Welse
below the ear. His revolver went off as he fell, and John the Swede
grunted and clapped a hand to his thigh.
Simultaneous with this the baron was overcome. Del Bishop, with hands
still above his head and eyes fixed innocently before him, had simply
kicked the pickle-keg out from under the Frenchman and brought him to
the floor. His bullet, however, sped harmlessly through the roof. La
Flitche seized Frona in his arms. St. Vincent, suddenly awakening,
sprang for the door, but was tripped up by the breed's ready foot.
The chairman pounded the table with his fist and concluded his broken
sentence, "Gentlemen, the prisoner is found guilty as charged."
CHAPTER XXIX
Frona had gone at once to her father's side, but he was already
recovering. Courbertin was brought forward with a scratched face,
sprained wrist, and an insubordinate tongue. To prevent discussion and
to save time, Bill Brown claimed the floor.
"Mr. Chairman, while we condemn the attempt on the part of Jacob Welse,
Frona Welse, and Baron Courbertin to rescue the prisoner and thwart
justice, we cannot, under the circumstances, but sympathize with them.
There is no need that I should go further into this matter.
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