Chapter 17

           "Jem,"Isaid,"arethosetheEwellssittin’downyonder?"

           "Hush,"saidJem,"Mr.HeckTate’stestifyin’."

           Mr.Tatehaddressedfortheoccasion.Heworeanordinarybusinesssuit,whichmadehimlooksomehowlikeeveryotherman:gonewerehishighboots,lumberjacket,andbullet-studdedbelt.Fromthatmomentheceasedtoterrifyme.Hewassittingforwardinthewitnesschair,hishandsclaspedbetweenhisknees,listeningattentivelytothecircuitsolicitor.

           Thesolicitor,aMr.Gilmer,wasnotwellknowntous.HewasfromAbbottsville;wesawhimonlywhencourtconvened,andthatrarely,forcourtwasofnospecialinteresttoJemandme.Abalding,smooth-facedman,hecouldhavebeenanywherebetweenfortyandsixty.Althoughhisbackwastous,weknewhehadaslightcastinoneofhiseyeswhichheusedtohisadvantage:heseemedtobelookingatapersonwhenhewasactuallydoingnothingofthekind,thushewashellonjuriesandwitnesses.Thejury,thinkingthemselvesunderclosescrutiny,paidattention;sodidthewitnesses,thinkinglikewise.

           "...inyourownwords,Mr.Tate,"Mr.Gilmerwassaying.

           "Well,"saidMr.Tate,touchinghisglassesandspeakingtohisknees,"Iwascalled—"

           "Couldyousayittothejury,Mr.Tate?Thankyou.Whocalledyou?"

           Mr.Tatesaid,"IwasfetchedbyBob—byMr.BobEwellyonder,onenight—"

           "Whatnight,sir?"

           Mr.Tatesaid,"ItwasthenightofNovembertwenty-first.