The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-07-07
A COMING POSSIBILITY.
BY GREG EDWARDS
copyright. 1897, by the Author.l


uOUSG LII ILIl1UQLfSu DIS tlllDll
the second day of the Cruilzshank poi
s0ning case. OF the passages converging
to the high court Of justiciary not
hands breadth Of pavement was to be
seen, nothing save the heads Of an eager,
painting. struggling multitude. Here
and there in q common epidemic of bad
temper, fashionable bonnets fluttered
and tossed and jostled each other; in the
outskirts of the crush anxious young
wigs lowered about in vain attempts to
save the fashionable bonnets from i'll
treatment, while above ali rose the
olanor of mingled shouts, imprecations,
tramplings and pushings.
ITS positively Illegal shocking
breach Of rules-absolute contempt of
courtr' gasped Mr.. Solomon, dean of
faculty, as he was shot into jail with
his wig in one hand and crushed bun
die of briefs in the other. 'Do some
thing, usher Don't stand gaping in
that helpless way. Clear the corridors
and stop that rowr' he cried angrily, as
he proceeded to adjust the disorder of
his apparel.
Thus hidden, the functionary address
ed mounted bench and called for or
der and silence, with as much authority
as feeble presence and feebler voice
could command and with as little re-
suit as might have been expected of one
SO endowed, whereupon another indi-
vidual, of hybrid appearance suggestive
of both beadle and waiter, sprang to a
similar point Of vantage and Justify lent
his aid
''Stan back, ma ami Don't shove, Ia
dies Ye won't get in any sooner by
shovinP'
ssLet me in, thenp' screamed thin
lady, waving aloft bag Of sandwiches.
Where's yer ticket?'' roared Hybrid.
81 haven't got one-didn' t know they
were necessary"
"Well, get out and don't block the
door, wemanr'
"I'm no woman; I'm DIR. Simpsons
wife.p'
"Hang DR.. Simpson! Stan back. 30
''Let her in and have done with it!''
came ansimpatient chorus from the mob.
"Confound ye! Come in, then" And,
with the united efforts of Hybrid and
usher, Mrs. Simpson was successfully
extracted and smilingly landed in court.
st say, usher" began a calm indi-
vidual who had gained an easy admit
tance through side door, "what's the
meaning of all this commotion?"
whats that ye're saying"
''I was asking the meaning of this
commotion.
Gould sakes!" yelled Hybrid excited
ly, turning a hot and astonished visage
at his questioner. Perhaps ye'd like
me to sit down and tell ye tale Move
out of the way, ye fool, and let them
people pass
The maligned man, serenely needless
Of this insult to his curiosity, sauntered
away peacefully and buttonholed less
animated person.
"Can you tell me, sir, the reason for
all this excitement
"The medical witnesses are to be ex-
amined today, and DR.. Angus Campbell
will be called to complete his evidence, !"
shouted the gentleman above the uproar.
"But is that sufficient reason why
the impenetrable granite Edinburgh
should behave like a volcano?''
"Maybe it isn't, but I suppose the
real cause lies in that sensational state
ment of DR.. Campbell's yesterday be-
fore the adjournment. -
And who, may ask, is DR.. Camp
bell?'' persisted the stranger TRANQUILITY.
"The greatest living toxicologist,
vociferated the other.
"Ah, see. But what's a toxioolo-
gist?''
ga fellow who's well up in poisons
and that sort Of thing"
understand. Yes-and-what was
the sensatlonal"-
"Excuse me. can't shout any more.
Bead that and find out for yourself, ~
beloved his informant as he thrust in
10 his hand a copy of the morning pa
per and tore himself away, leaving the
inquisitive stranger to seat himself next
to young man Of professional though
shabby and threadbare appearance, who,
to judge by his gestures and readiness
to volunteer information, might be in
ferred to be personally interested in the
events of the day
Shortly aftetward the courtroom be-
came crowded to suffocation with
flushed and disheveled gathering, the
tumult suddenly ceased as judge and
jury took their places and the prisoners
entered the dock, and the proceedings
began.
When the venerable, white haired
witness in whom conferred the interest
Of the day gravely stepped into the box
and rested his hands upon the ledge,
the audience rGstled in their seats and
bent forward in breathless silence lest
word CT tho evidence should be lost,
Will he seodv young man, unable to
control his excitement, whispered hur-
richly to his DoiGhhor:
That's TT. Campbell; finest man IL
the E-@yle-.; ny greatest friend and
bepcGa Ter -
Turning - the witness, the lord al.
vocate eo:e9ac@cod the days examine.
ten av ss.1a:s:
''L@l5z1 roa~ ler5sllip rose ycstorjo<