The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-09-29
FIVE MILLION POUNDS
BY I. wE1rxss REID.
CHAPTER XII.
AT THE BAR

BY I. WEMXsS REID.
CHAPTER XII
AT THE BAR
Ineed not dwell upon the events that i'm
mediately followed Daisy's arrest Too soon
was compelled to admit that the web of
circumstantial evidence woven against my
darling was only too close and complete
There were two examinations before the
magistrates, in addition to the preliminary
one; but l shall not delay my story by re-
ferring more particularly to them. At the
end Of the last examination Daisy was COM
mitted to the assizes at York for trial on the
capital charge
had been constantly in attendance upon
her during this terrible time, and, along
with DR.. Branksome, | had adopted every
method of obtaining evidence on her behalf
that presented itself to me. But all our
efforts had been in vain. We could not
adduce a single fact that tended to break
down that dreadful chain of discriminating
testimony which was woven against her by
witnesses both willing and the reverse.
It was after Daisy's final committal that
Branksome and / quarreaed. Up to that
moment / had been constantly with him
and had taken his advice in every matter
concerning the trial He on his side had
treated me with gentleness and frankness
which had strengthened his hold upon my
feelings. He had never referred directly to
the fact that 1t was my action at Trondhjem
which had set the fatal engine of the law In
motion. he had even listened to me with
grave attention when l openly declared my
belief that Flinter was at the bottom Of the
mystery and that he had probably worked
through some accomplice at the hall When
he had asked me where that accomplice was
to be found, had told him Of my meeting
with Gregson and had suggested that if we
could lay hands upon this man we might
perhaps obtain some clew to the real origin
of the tragedy.
He was evidently surprised by my account
of what Gregson had said to me on my jour
ney by rail to Great Lorton Hall; and, after
considering the matter for some time, he ad-
mitted that the first step to be taken was to
discover this man and learn the meaning Of
his declarations The finding of Gregson
was a part of orr common task which
Branksome took into his own hands. He
knew something of the man, he told me-had
known him, in fact, when he was in the EN-.
ployment of Mr. Mauleverer in Australia
and he had no doubt about his ability to
discover him. .
L
what right this fellow had followed and per-
secuted Daisy on the occasion Of my first
meeting with her But ON this subject he
could give me no information, any more
than he could with regard to the mans sim
ister predictions regarding the murder at
Great Lorton Hall
Up to this point, say, l had worked In
the most perfect harmony with the doctor.
But now, when Daisy had been committed to
take her trial at the assizes, we quarreled,
and quarreled bitterly and irrevocably.
II have thought every thing over care
fully, he said to me, as we sat together In
the hotel on the night after the examination
was closed. II have weighed all the evil
dence, and the position of the poor girl, and
have come to the conclusion that there Is
only one course to be taken"
"And what is that9" asked, eagerly
@She must plead guilty, in which case I
have no doubt that we shall be able to save
her life."
l could scarcely believe my ears For a
moment was stunned by this unexpected
suggestion.
"GuiltyI" cried, when found my voice
EYou suggest that she should confess to this
horrible crime-you, DR.. Branksome, who
have stood in the place of father to her,
and who ought to know her innocence and
purity as well as do myself You are JEST
ing, surely"
He shook his head, and those deep dark
eyes of his looked fixedly into mine.
1--WE have done our best my friend" he
raid, Hand we have failed. Don't let us de-
ceive ourselves as to the truth any longer"
"Speak for yourself, sir, l cried in mo
ment freeing myself from the influence
which the man had SO long exercised over
me. "If you choose to adopt the monstrous
talsehood-yes it is a falsehood, and you
know it--that Daisy is guilty, then 60 your
way, and join the band of her prosecutors
and bring her to the gallows If you canI
but don't ask me to join you in the internal
work
GBe calm, SIR" said Branksome, sternly.
aYou compel me to remind you how it Is
that Daisy's life has been endangered"
sprang to my feet, exasperated beyond
endurance by that fatal recollection.
@Dr Branksome, owe you much in con-
nection with this matter, and l shall try to
remember my debt But there is ons thing
shall never forgive-never while l live
and that is that you should have been ready
TO desert Daisy in her hour of sorest need"
I left the room in hot Indignation and |
from that time we met no more as friends.
1t was more difficult to do SO now that she |
had been committeeman procured from her |
the full authority which l needed to enable |
me to take charge of her interests during |
her trial. The good people Of the prison |
pitied both her and me. Her beauty, her |
youth, the tie which bound us TO each other, |
al seemed to awaken in the hearts OF the |
officials feeling of sympathy and goodwill |
,oward us. Even the chief constable, East
mead, was friendly in his manner, and quite |
willing to do what he could to assist me in |
the task had undertaken as Daisy's cham
pion In the little town of Barton, where the |
Mauleverer poisoning case was for weeks /
he sole topic of discussion, everybody knew
the story of Daisy and myself; and / was |
conscious that as l walked through the
streets was followed by the pity ing glances
of the passers-by. But alas, no comfort was
brought 20 my soul by all this outfowing
generous sympathy. For in my heart OF
hearts knew that all these people believed
my darling to be guilty-believed it all the
more certainly now that it was known that
even her guardian, Branksome, had deserted
her. l, and l only, knew her to be free
from blame; and alasi I found myself IS
time passed less able to convert others to my
view
Theirs was one thing l could and did do
for Daisy. procured for her at my own
expense the best legal assistance that was to
be obtained Mr.. Belmore. Q. c., whom
caused to be retained for the defense, was by
common consent the great leader at the
criminal bar. His silvery tongue and po
ished manner, combined with an unrivale
acuteness in detecting the weak points MOI
merely in an adversarys armor, but in the
panoply of virtue in which every British
jury is clad. had raised him to a position
which very few men are able to attain even
at the English bar. never paid any money
with greater satisfaction in my life than
when disbursed the amount necessary to
permit Of Mr.. Belmore's brief being marked
with fee Of Eve hundred guineas and
Grefresher1 Of one hundred guineas day.
As second to Belmore l selected my friend
Harding, with whom had been associated
at Scarborough at the time when Daisy and
l first learned to love each other. His name
had been mentioned to me among those Of
several other rising juniors on the circuit by
the attorney whom had consulted, and in
stantly selected him, believing that he would
give me the assistance of friend as well as OF
an advocate And now waited with such
patience as could command for the day
when my darling would be placed on trial
for her life and when, as hoped, her innc-
cence might be fully established did not
Of course relax the efforts had been MAX
Ing to obtain counter-evidence on her behalf
Three sfacial 410ints an "a e,ad all NV attain