All my troubles began about that time." "Murrell belongs in these parts," said the judge.
"I'd admire fo' to meet him," said Yancy quietly.
The judge grinned.
"I place my professional services at your disposal," he said.

"Yours is a clear case of felonious assault." "No, it ain't, sir--I look at it this-a-ways; it's a clear case of my giving him the damnedest sort of a body beating!" "Sir," said the judge, "I'll hold your hat while you are about it!" Hicks had taken his time in responding to the judge's summons, but now his step sounded in the hall and throwing open the door he entered the room.

Whether consciously or not he had acquired something of that surly, forbidding manner which was characteristic of his employer.

A curt nod of the head was his only greeting.
"Will you sit down ?" asked the judge.

Hicks signified by another movement of the head that he would not.