, 1900-02-08

he fancied the prisoner must be mad.
IF that gentleman will answer my
questions resumed the prisoner, Il
think | sholl be able to prove to every
one that | was in Brisbane at the time
I said"
The stranger shifted in his seat
n%ervously, and at last said in of
annoyance and expostulation:
Your honor I've never to my knowl-
edge set eyes on the prisoner before.
and l don't see how | can fix up his
innocence. Besides. l guess l didn't
come here to be questioned by every
son of a gun that holds up a mail
coach-I beg your pardon, you honor,
but you'll allow the annoyance is con-
siderable, anyhow"
His honor admitted 1t was, b
straightway appealed to the strangers
better feelings on behalf of the pris-
oner until he was somewhat Modified
and remarked: WAL, If he thinks it's
straight wire. he can start in, and I'll
answer his questions. l 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 a man running after
your hat in the street in Brisbane, and
bringing it back to you on the pave
ment?"
Il can't say that I do" replied the
stranger. after a little thought; mo, l
can't fetch it."
DO you not remember his saying
that he was out of work and his three
children were starving? And then can
you rec giving him a sovereign and
saying, sge's a shilling for your"
Ths stranger was silent, as II he
wished to remember the occurrence;
but presently he shook his head and
said: mo, it's no use."
STAY cried the prisoner again, in
a voice of terrible tension, for it was
his last chance, do you remember.
before giving the sovereign, flat the
man told you that he had for ,ht in
the. Crimean wal and could show
wounds-that he had helped his coun-
try, but his country would not help
him? Yes, you must remember his
showing you the scars--one at the
back at the head, another on his right
| breast"
The stranger interrupted him with a
sudden exclamation: Il do, l do! The
scar on YOU breast is a long one-a
saber cut. Your honor, l remember
meeting this man! l must apologize;
his life was in my hands, and 1 nearly
let him fall through. He is the man
l saw in Brisbane
There was a perfect sensation in
court as the prisoner steadied himself
and wiped the cold moisture from his
brow.
Can you remember the date on
which this happened" asked the pros
ecuting counsel.
"Ah, I'm afraid l can't" the stranger
returned; but l know this-it was
three days after the Carlisle Castle ar
rived at Sydney, If it's possible to find
cut what date that was"
The newspapers of the first week
In July were then consulted, and it was
found that the Carlisle Castle arrived
at Sydney on June 30, so that three
days afterward brought it to the exact
date required.
Again there was applause in court as
the prisoner was formally acquitted.
Finally, turning toward the stranger,
the judge remarked: In the interest
of Justice. l thank you sir; your pres
ence here today is one of those remark
able dispensations of providence which
are seldom met with"
That night the acquitted prisoner, the
American gentleman and his servant
rode through the bush in a jovial
frame of mind. For. reasons best
known to themselves, they wished to
put as great a distance as possible be-
tween the township and themselves
before morning, and as they went they
planned how they should hold I'D the
mail a second time at no very distant
date. But 1t was the last time the
trick was played successfully In that
neighborhood, for the distinguished
American decamped without paying
his hotel bill; moreover, Viscount
Thurlton never arrived, and q rat
was subsequently smelt and seen float
Ing In the air Of the neighborhood OF
the c~ourthouse-a rat which had grown
considerably beyond the bud" stage
Chicago Times-Herald.