The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-07-07
1T IS my oPlnIon, answered tle

| l.
revolver. 1t is clear to me now that
Sydney Hart accidentally shot himself
with his own pistol. 1t carries 3S-cali-
Der ball; the other only 32.'
Not 4 sound broke the silence of the
room for u brief space of time and
then the people began to applaud.
"Order in court! will have order!"
thundered Squire Richardson, and the
room became still again.
With a sheepish look the solicitor
! went to the table and picked up the two
revolvers, and then sickly smile of ac-
lsnowledged defeat passed over his face
as he threaded his way back to his seat.
"Now, your honor" said Reddng, II
want to have the states witness, Mr..
Thad Williams, called to the stand. I
understand he is prepared to swear that
sgd Hart told i'm jest before he ex-
PRED that my client not only shot i'm,
but that he attacked i'm first. want
to help i'm consign himself to the peni-
Tertiary for perjury"
The solicitor, after all, took defeat
gracefully. He shrugged his broad
shoulders at this and broke into laugh.
"You are welcome to Thad as wit
ness, Brother Redding," he said. eve
don't want to hear from him any more"
Thad Williams looked like moving
| corpse as he stood up.
81 hain't swore a thing yet, as know
Of" he faltered, amid laughter all over
the room. II reckon can talk as much
rs I want to when 1 hain't Kissed the
Book
what I want you to do" said Red
ding, his sharp eyes bent on the gaunt,
coatless witness, sis to clear my clients
reputation of all the lies you have told
to-day"
you'd better tell straight story,
Thad," smiled the solicitor. eff you
will, I'll forgive you for the way you
took ME in."
"Im willin' to tell all I know" con-
scented Williams. II don't want no
trouble. I've got wife and six children
to support"
Williams was then put under oath,
and confessed that sgd had said that he
had shot himself while trying to hold
his horse in check, the animal being
thoroughly frightened by the firing.
Thad showed the court how his friend
had evidently tried to hold the reins and
revolver in the same hand, and how it
had been discharged by striking it's
hammer against the pummel of the
saddle.
''I wouldn't a-tried to testify ag'in
Fanshaw," he added, "if sgd hadn't
aNed me to revenge his DEATH"
When the witness had sat down amid
q storm of Kisses from the rear of the
room and in the crowded hallway adj
joining, the solicitor rose.
"Your honor" he began, "the state
has not a shadow of a case, and want
to ask you to dismiss it. When think
how near came to using my efforts
towards the conviction of one of the
most prominent young men in this
state-when think how near I came to
being the tool OF the unprincipled
scamp on my right, feel, I say like
thanking God for my escape. want to
be the first to congratulate Mr.. Fan
shaw, to beg his pardon with all my
heart and to wish him all success in
the legal profession, to which, UNDER
stand, he is brilliant candidate"
The house beloved with applause as
the solicitor crossed over and grasped
Ronald's hand. A look of dissatisfac-
ton clouded Capt. Wrinkles face, and
Col. Hasbrooke, with an inexplicable
expression, was seen worming his way
towards the door through the now
standing crowd.
The sheriff, when the case had been
formally thrown out of court. sprang
upon bench and pounded another with
his walking stick.
''Boys," he beloved, 81 driv' Mr.. Fan
shaw into town in my turnout, an I
want the honor O. takin' i'm back the
same way"
Ronald. in the midst of surging
throng eager to grasp his hand, looked
over their heads and nodded to Ratc,ifr.
When the crowd was thinning some
what he found Dave at his elbow. Dust
had accumulated on the rough fellows
cheeks, and through it were the damp
tracks of tears. The hand he gave his
brother was cold and quivered.
II don't want to do anything 'thout
consultin' you, Rom" he began, $50
thought I would ak you about Thad
Williams"
"What about him" questioned Rom
aid, mystiiied.
Dave drew him out of earshot of the
others.
81 don't think can ever respect my
SELF" he said. with gulp. "f 1 don't
call i'm to account for the way he's
done you. Ron, have got to fight i'm
thar hain't no two ways aboutit. I'm
armed, an SO is he. If 1 don't turn up
home tonight, tell EN-"
His brother laid both of his hands on
his shoulders.
I'D rather you would not, Dave" he
said. This must end the whole thing.
You must not put yourself into the jail
from which have escaped"
"Ron, I'd ruther die than let that
trihin' skunk
But Ronald would not listen to him,
and in few minutes persuaded him to
drop his desire for revenge.
ITO Be Continued
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The ground on which a foreign le-
cation stands is considered as belong
| ing to the country whoa A,~ Ao,+.