Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-04-24
CHAPTER VI.


While the little party was on its way
to the abode of justice, Drane had time
TO bring his mind TO one definite and
valuable conclusion. Ills mislortunes
on similar occasion had been aggra-
waited by his own injudicious utterances.
He resolved to keep still this time, even
II he had TO hire somebody TO gag him.
1t was little that he knew about New
York except as to its pavements and it's
distanccs.and both these he was prepared
to condemn as emphatically as would
any reformer lie had not supposed
that his second arrest took place In the
same judicial district in which his first
came TO pass. BY reason Of hisrehabih-
tation his nerves had maintained a fair
poise during the short journey to the
court, but when he saw the ornate tower
of jefferson market ahead OF him and
then realized that he was bound to APP
pear before the same justice who had
lectured him but day or two previous
~, they fell TO quiyering ominously.
Nevertheless he kept up appearances
and entered the caurt room with an air
of dignided self-possession.
The bulk Of tho days business had
been cleared away, so he and his com
panion in distress were summoned ut
once to the bar.
What is this caseq' demanded tho
Judge.
This r!..n, responded the police
man, jerking his thumb towards the
ragged tramp, accuses this gentleman
Of stealing his clothes"
The Judge glanced in surprise from
one to the other OF the parties, and
he looked sharply at Lawrence as IL the
face reminded him Of somebody. Then
he ordered the complainant to step up
and asked him his name.
Lawrence Drane, was the cool reply.
Again the Judge seemed to be trying
to recall something out Of the dim re-
cesses Of his memory, but the effort
failed, and be composed himself to lis
ten TO the complainants story. The
false Drane told exactly what had hap
pened at the batb-house, not deviating
in the slightest particular from the
truth, except as his story implied his
claim 10 ownership in the clothes which
the real Drane had on.
Did you ever see the prisoner be-
fore?" asked the Judge.
81 think / saw him not more than
three days ago" replied the impostor;
ut was late in the afternoon and he had
a skate on. | remember him because
of these rags which he wore az the
time"
The Judge turned to Mr.. Drane, who
had been listening intently, and began
the examination in the usual way, by
asking his name. Lawrence was vehe-
mently moved to denounce his accuser,
but he recalled his determination to
control his tongue in this episode; there
fore he responded simply:
Lawrence Drane"
A big scowl tangled the judges eye
brows and puckered up his lips. Judicial
memory was again in process of castiga-
ton This time the mental prodding
turned up a clew,
Haven't you been here beforer' he
demanded sternly
Mr.. Drane's conscience wriggled and
groaned under the temptation Of mem
dacity lie was immorally certain that
q good lie would be moro eiiicacIous in
the emergency than a guardian angel;
but his gentlemanly instincts reyolted
at lying, especially when he knew he
was in the right. Moreover the angel
was present tho courtroom, though
Lawrence didn't know il and she had
not as yet discovered him Perhaps her
influence had something to do with in
ducing him to falter an affirmative to
the judges question. The reply stimn-
lated the judges memory wonderfully.
fro BIZ CONTINUED.
Look out for the new serial story by
Jules Verne, soon to commence in these
columns.