Ralph said he would like to ask her one question.
"Did I ever go with your daughter Miranda ?" "No, you didn't," answered the witness, with a tone and a toss of the head that let the cat out, and set the court-room in a giggle.

Bronson saw that he was gaining nothing, and now resolved to follow the line which Small had indicated.
Pete Jones was called, and swore point-blank that he heard Ralph go out of the house soon after he went to bed, and that he heard him return at two in the morning.

This testimony was given without hesitation, and made a great impression against Ralph in the minds of the justices.

Mrs.
Jones, a poor, brow-beaten woman, came on the stand in a frightened way, and swore to the same lies as her husband.

Ralph cross-questioned her, but her part had been well learned.
There, seemed now little hope for Ralph.