The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-25
view of astronomical idiots hunting for

view of astronomical idiots hunting for a
skylight."
"Sir, you are frivolous" Rravely the
court asserts. "You show a disposition to
s:of that is utterly unbeooming in a per-
son of your years and in your present pain
full condition"
II thank your honor''is tho delighted
ejaculation of the one attorney in the case.
Nov. sir. once more and be very careful
how you answer this question. Have you
or have you not in the attic of this domi-
cile any love letters or love tokens there
pusillanimously, nefariously and felonious-
ly concealed? BE very careful, sir"
II appeal to your worship, l appeal.
That's no question. Hsrk. how the echoes
of il are still jangling in the piano yonder.
Colonel Nolan. would style it, and even his
psrfervid eloquenos would fall short of the
mark"
"Answer the question, prisoner"
But your worship" the prisoner con-
times, II may have forgotten"
"Forgotten, sir" argues the court, with a
surreptitious glance for Mary's oommen-
dssion. "how can any man. that is a man,
forget such things?o
"Well, but, please your worship" insists
the prisoner. "thsre's forgetting and for
getting. For instance. il you will allow
club the other day. Great climate, they
say, Montana, and heaps of the where
withal. Well. sir. this man told me of Il
case in point. Hesknew . ~satoonkeeper out
there somewhere. who had a cuckoo clock
an imported one--in his saloon. and very
highly he valued it.. 80 to keep it out Of
harms way. it was fixed high up on the wall
and every night he would climb a little pair
of steps kept for the purpose and wind the
clock himself. But one evening, as it hap
pensd, u party of old timers got together in
the saloon and in plain English got glor-
:--zl- h.,-tr ,r- aol~NptaANnr Nuilh Nhn
rest. Miss Attorney will excuse the Ian
guape OF a ~disreputable being. l know,
Habit brought out the steps for him, but
habit was powerless to steady him enough
to climb them. All proffers of assistance
were, of course, refused. Mike he wrote
a little note to his day bartender, Mike,
wind up the cuckoo clock in the morning,
l forgot it,"
"Answsr the question, prisoner" the
court repeats.
"Then, your worship. / am positive there's
no suoh lumber there, unless it may DO let
ters addressed to one Miss May Sterling,
and signed by n man whose singular mis-
fortune il aOems to ho to have only one
name, and that Jack. Either he 10 u peer
of the realm who has failed TO catch an
American heiresa. or he has read Shakes
j peare's plays until he has become a raving
luna-'
.Sia. You have received your lsst warn
Ing" thunders the court with u convulsive
twitching of the lips.
"That is enough. prisoner" and with a
graceful wave OF her hand the prosecuting
attorney dismisses the moor igible cnlprit,
you may stand down. Now, your Homo !.
you hnvs heard tho prisoners statements
made upon oath or, at least, we'll, never
mind. How much value you may see Mt TO
attach TO those statements. you can at once
| decide, for l have he,e u m~ost-ah-ah.
again that troublesome cough, "a most
eh-what regular practitioners call dam
nnble piece OF evidence against him.. Tx
plain II away l am euts he cannot. Search
ing, your Honor, in the attic this morning
for an old almanac l found, with a soiled
ribbon tied around il. this-glovc."
Triumphant flourish from her pocket on
the part of the attorney.
.Humph! seems rather large for romantic
purposes, don't 1t. miss attorney" draws
the court. as he carefully turns over q largt
sized dog-akin variety.
There's no accounting for tastes, OF