The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-24
A Dfspensation.

land the proprietor of the best hotel the
! place could boast of was surprised, not
to say flattered, to see a gentleman, gold
| headed as to cane, and evidently rich
| and Influential, to judge from his serv-
| ant and luggage, alight from the coach
| with all the appearance of one who was
going to stay a week in the place. He
was distinctly an American. with a twink
ling gray eye, long, aquiline nose, a
| ciean-shaven upper lip and a small
! goatee, which he smoothed meditatiyeiy
| as he stood like a long-legged Colossus
| of Rhodes, in trousering of a very broad
check pattern, surveying the pride of the
proprietor's heart. namely, the hotel.
Il guess it's not unlike my stables in
| Connecticut ne said presently, as the
| proprietor came down to meet him
You must have fine stables. then, a"
was the reply, offered gently, in the hope
of turning away not the great man him
self, but only his wrath.
| I'VE have sir; our stable yards are con-
siderable. And l say it in praise of your
| shanty that it reminds me of my sta
| bles in Connecticut. I suppose you can
| give US a loose box for a week, maybe?"
| Certainly" he replied, ''for week or
as much longer as you like"
We'll, 1 guess L only want TO stay a
week. You see. I arranged to wait here
|
| join me next Thursday, and then were
| going along to the new diggings just TO
reckon things up a bit TO see whether the
place is worth working on a large scale,
as we do it IN America But 1 say, boss,
| this place is real dull after Brisbane;
! isn't there any theater or place Of amuse-
ment? I reckon 1 shall die Of dizziness
right here
The landlord. already under the dis
| tinguished patronage Of Viscount Thurl-
! ton. became oily, almost greasy, in his
manner He explained that there was no
! troupe at the theater at present, and that
the only excitement was the trial of a
I man who was supposed to be concerned
| in daring coach robbery committed
some little time before in the neighbour
| hood "Ah! That would be interesting"
| said the stranger. 81 should like to see
| that. Stuck up the coach did hep
well they say he did, but he himself
swears that he is innocent, and that ne
was in Brisbane at the time the coach
was stopped. If you would care 10 hear
! the trial, sir. I can get you seat easily"
Il guess I'll take you up" returned the
stranger, and it was agreed that the pro-
prietor should escort the great man to
the court house on the morrow, and by
| his influence secure him a good seat, just
to enable him to while away the time I'M
til Viscount Thurlton came along.
1t so happened, however, that when they
arrived the body OF the court was full so
that the distinguished looking American
was accommodated with a seat on the
bench, where he not only had a good
view of the proceedings, but was seen
and known by everyone as the friend OF
Viscount Thurlton, and a wealthy Ameri-
can who was going to buy the new dig
20 fsT-rnvI N i
nary man might work potato patch.
The prisoner was standing in the dock
with his eyes cast down listening in de-
spair to the conclusive evidence against
him Presently he raised his eyes at
some direct question from the judge. and
was about to speak when his eyes fell up
on the stranger sitting on the bench. He
paused and staggered, then gripped at
the air, and fell senseIess in the dock.
When at last he was brought round he
stood up, and, pointing to the stranger,
gasped for breath and tried to speak.
What is it. my MANI" said the judge.
STEADY yourself l ask again, have you
anything to say in your defense?"
"Oh. your honor" said the prisoner at
last. II am saved-saved at the last mo-
ment. l have already said that I was
in Brisbane at the time of the robbery,
and there is the man who can prove it. "
All eyes followed the direction of his
finger and rested upon the stranger, who
started. looked confused. then irritated
and finally bewildered, as if he fancied
the prisoner must be mad.
eff that gentleman will answer my
question: resumed the prisoner, II think
I shall be able to prove to everyone that
I was in Brisbane at the time I said
The stranger shifted in his seat nerv-
ously, and at last said in tones of an
noyance and expOstulation:
Your honor. I've never to my knowl-
edge set eyes on the prisoner before, and
l don't see how 1 can fix UP his inno-
ceuce. Besides. I guess 1 didn't come
here to be questioned by every son of a
gun that holds up mail COACH beg
your pardon. your honor. but you'll allow
the annoyance is considerable, anyhow"
His honor admitted it was. but straight
way appealed to the strangers better feel
angs on behalf of the prisoner until he
was somewhat Modified. and remarked:
WAL, If he thinks it's straight wire. he
can start in and I'll answer his ques-
tons | don't mind taking him up on
that"
The stranger was then sworn, and as
he stood in the witness box the prisoner
addressed him.
Sir" he said. do you remember on
the Sd of July man running after your
hat in the street in Brisbane and bring
ing it back to you on the pavement"
Il can't say that I do" replied the
stranger after a little thought; no
can't fetch it."
DO you not remember his saving that
he was out OF work and his three children
were starving? And then can you recall
giving him sovereign and saying:
Here's a shilling for you"
The stranger was silent. as If he wished
10 remember the occurrence but pres
emily he shook his head and said NO:
its no use-you must be mistaking me
for some one else
stay cried the prisoner again, in A
voice of terrible tension. for 1t was his
last chance. DO you remember. before
giving the sovereign. that the man told
YOU he had fought in the Crimean war
and could show vounds-that ne had
helped his country. but MS country would
not help him? Yes. you must remember
his showing you the scars-One at the
back % the head. another on HIS right
breast
The stranger interrupted him with a
sudden exclamation: It DO, I do, The
scar on your breast IS a long oue-a
aber cut. Your honor. remember meet
ing this man. 7 must apologize; hts life
was ifi i-lf Hdl4tNs anu trdiie Iet MN
fsU through. He is the man 7 saw in
Brisbane"
There was a profound sensation in court
as the prisoner steadied himself and
wiped the cold moisture from mis- brow
can you remember the date on which
this happened2" asked the prosecuting
counsel
All. I'm afraid it can't" the stranger
returned but I know this-it was three
days after the Carlisle Castle arrived 81
Sydney. Il rs possible 10 find out what
Dr. rraf US =.