The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1893-08-05
THE COUNTERFEIT COIN.

ILL UUUNlENEIl CUM
i CHAPTER ~.
! Twas busy with the police authorities
that evening and had no time to COM
nlun4cste with Alice, but the next morn
i&g whom I saw her brought into court,
looking 20 broken hearted and helpless,
7 blamed myself for having left her thus
10 drink the cupof bitterness to the very
1rsgs. In few whispered words babe
asr be Of good cheer, but she scarcely
emed 70 heed me at all, 30 oppressed
was abe by the sight 1T the crowd and
tho keen sense Of her forlorn condition.
Save her poor mother, who had risen
from sick bed to accompany her, she
did not know that she had q friend
there. Even I, though she knew I
meant her kindly, had been the unwill-
ing means of placing her there.
I looked eagerly around tho court
room. On front bench sat Mr.. For
ceps, the pawnbroker, chief witness for
the prosecution, and some distance be-
hind was my old client, true to his
promise. and pleased to have at last q
part to take in court. It seemed to him
like . little rehearsal for the greatdrama
Of his own case.
The district attorney opened the case,
and was about to call me as the first
witness. Mr.. Flourish had not yet made
his appearance. Greatly to my relief
the pawnbroker came forward and
whispered into the attorneys ear, who
Immediately called him to the stand.
Il believe must give Mr.. Forceps the
precedence" he said to me.
II think You had better, Brother Row.
land, answered Flourish over my shout
der. at the Same time divesting himself
OF his overcoat, and distributing good
humOred though somewhat patronizine
recognitions among the smaller fry of
lawyers around him.
Mr.. Forceps testified to the attempt
made to pass the counterfeit coin on
him, as previously detailed. His direct
examination was soon over, and he
turned to Mr.. Flourish with smile of
confidence, which to me seemed not al
together natural. It looked as if he
were bracing himself up for a contest Of
nerve with the counsel for the defense.
But If Mr.. Forceps looked for granu
display of inquisitorial tactics he was
destined to he mistaken. Mr.. Flourish
simply turned for q moment toward him
remarking:
II only want to know if have under
stood you Alright, MI. Forceps. l think
you said this was your only transaction
with the prisoner-I mean the only oc-
casion on which you received money
from her."
Il never received any money at all
from her unless you call that thing
money" pointing to the coin. "Perhaps
You call that money, but l don't, SIR"
And Mr.. Forceps smiled approvingly at
his own retort.
'How long did understand that you
had this coin in your possession?" bland
ly rejoined the counsel.
mo time at all. knew it was bad the
minute it touched the drawer and took
it out and returned it,"
you took 1t out aud returned it?" re-
piled Flourish, as If mechanically re-
peating the words "That will do, sir"
MI. Bullion then testified to the char
acter Of the coin ard to the prisoners ad-
mission in my office that it was the same
one she had offered to the pawnbroker.
The prosecution rested.
Without any formal opening Of the
defense Mr.. Flourish nodded to me and
took the stand. Tho district attorney
threw himself back in his chair and
listened carelessly while detailed the
particulars Of my interview with Alice
on the eventful Saturday night. But
when mentioned the knife marks on
the coin l had given her his practiced
mind foresaw at once our line of defense, |
It was doubtless the first intimation he
had received that any substantial de-
fense would be attempted, and in his
surprise he started to his feet and di.
rected searching glance first at me
and then in rapid succession at the
prisoner. her counsel and his own wit
nesses.
Have you ever seen that marked coin
since, Mr.. Quidam?'
.Ihave."
when and where!"
1T 10 here" said l, producing it. II
received it back about ten days ago from
. client, Mr.. Richard Grosyenor."