"Um--um! Did you represent the defendant in the police court?"
Hogan suddenly felt a lump swelling in his pharynx. What in hell was it all about?
"I--er--there was no use in fighting the case there. I hoped the grand jury would throw it out," he stammered.
"Did anybody ask you to waive examination?"
The swelling in Hogan's fat neck grew larger. Suppose McGurk or Delany were trying to put something over on him!
"No! Certainly not!" he replied unconvincingly. He didn't want to make the wrong answer if he could help it.
"You have an--associate, have you not? A Mr. Simpkins?"
"Yes, Your Honor." Hogan was pale now and little beads were gathering over his eyebrows.
"Officer," ordered the judge, "send for Mr. Simpkins. We will suspend until he can get here."
Then His Honor occupied himself with some papers, leaving Hogan standing alone at the bar trying to work out what it all meant. He began to wish he had never touched the damn case. Everybody in the courtroom seemed to be looking at him and whispering. He was most uncomfortable. Suppose that crooked cop had welshed on him! At the same instant in the back of the room a similar thought flashed through the mind of Delany. Suppose Hogan should welsh on him! Coincidentally both scoundrels turned sick at heart. Then came to each the simultaneous realization that neither could gain anything by giving the other away, and that the only thing possible for either was to stand pat. No, they must hang together or assuredly hang separately. Then the door opened and a tall officer entered, followed by a very nervous Mr. Joey Simpkins.
"Come up here!" directed the judge. "You are Mr. Hogan's assistant, are you not?"
"Yes, sir!" quavered the anxious Simpkins.
"How much money have you taken from Mrs. Mathusek?"
"Why--from his arrest to the present time--and for his defense here in General Sessions."
"Have either you or Mr. Hogan done anything as yet--except to waive examination in the police court?"
Mr. Simpkins turned hastily to Mr. Hogan, who realized that things were going badly.
"Your Honor," he interposed thickly, "this money was an agreed fee for my services as counsel. This examination seems to me somewhat uncalled for and unfair."
"Call Tony Mathusek to the bar!" suddenly ordered the judge.