Graham guardian., 1900-06-22

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RONALD FELT A THRILL OF HORROR
PASS OVER HIM.
surprise me (as The land lies now) fo,
you to have to lie in Jail till the spring
term O. court. wouldn't say this,
added the sheriff, his eyes ayerted, iii
l didn't think il is always better to b,
prepared for the worst. don't want
TO give the prosecution chance TO ,ex.
ult over yore looks. When told my
wife how the case stood this mornin'
she actually cried.GA body never ear
tell how Squire Richardson is gwine to
act; he's a lille wishy-washy; lie tries
TO imagine he belongs to the aristoc.
racy. jest a minute ago seed i'm j:
Smiths bar a-drintin' with Capt
Wrinkle. cant imagine why tbri
little dude is SO much concerned II,
this trial. I'd bet a hoss to an empty
hens nest that be was tallin' about
this case" n.f
Hes not a friend Of mine" ex.
planned Rouald. despondently.
DO you mean that he is shore
'nough enemy?" questioned Ratcliff.
with some concern.
! II think he would like to see me
suffer as heavily as possible in this
matter, Mr., Rntcliff."
THAT accounts for IL, then" tht
sheriff muttered an oath to hiEl
self. 81 wish that Richardson Wa.
broader man; be thinks me
Of Wrinkles stamp are Just the thing
However, we mustn't cross a bridge
before we come to it: the truth Is
you've got the best criminal lawyer 10
seven states; he haint got muci,
schoolin', but he can speak like rips
He's, been scourin' the country r.
catch up with Thad Williams; b
wants to corner i'm fore the state So
licitor does. You know Solicitor WchG
would rather win a case'n to eat cake
If he gets hold OF Williams fust, he'll
drill i'm so as nobody alive coulG
catch him in cross.questionin'. BY th
way, Mr., Rcddin' told me to say to
you that he'd be too busy to see yo,:
fore the trial. I'll come up to fetch,
you down 10 the courtroom in plenty
o. time"
A few minutes before two o'clocl
the sheriff came after our hero. lie
had little to say, and his very reti
cence confirmed Ronald's fear that no.
new thing in his favor had turned up
since morning. The courtroom wa>.
crowded to the doors. The first face
that fell under the notice of the dis.
spirited prisoner was the sinister one
of Capt Wrinkle, who sat suspiciously
near Squire Richardson's elbow; the
next was the round, good-natured one
OF Col. Hasbrooke; but Ronald had
never seen 1t look quite so pale and
downcast. The thought ran through
his mind that Winkle had reported
the fact OF his having been driven 10
RatcliH's BY Evelyn. Yes, he was SURE,
OF 1t now, for nothing but the dis
covery OF his daughters secret would
have induced man OF Hasbrooke's
stay-at.bomc habits to attend court
Ronald felt thrill almost of horror
pass over him ak be thought that per,
baps the colonel had come with the
sole hope that the trial would perma.
nently remove him from the path OF
his daughter. The next moment he
felt his arm nervously clutched by
Redding.
Come inside the raiin' an set by
me-" the lawyer whispered, his breath
on his clients cheek "rll want yore
suggestions as the case proceeds
Damn til" he added, as II TO himself
I'm want anything can lay hold OF;
them fellers have got the best show.
in they ever had ag'in an innoceni
man." AS he spoke he waved hi,
hand towards Mr.. Webb, the state so
licitor, handsome iSsn OF 40. with
bushy mustache and massive hair
who sat only few feN away
with bis head close to that Of Thad
Williams they seemed to be talk.
ing of the case, for the solicitor was
notes with pencil and nod
ding and smiling with evident salts
faction.
Its but fair to you. my boy" Red
ling continued, us bailifr gave them
eats on the left Of the judges table,
TO tell you at the outset that they
,ave the advantage SO far. Don't un-
ierstand me to say that you will be
ound guilty in the supreme court,
,ut my hope fur bail is gettin' awful
lim. / mighty nigh run myself to
ieath to ketch up with Williams, but
Webb suspicioned what was up to
IN kept i'm hid out. Then" the
,peaker glanced towards the Judge,
I'm powerful afraid Richardson is
veil. unsympathetic, to soy the least.
know men dad drat 'emD you don't
nave to belt me over the head with q
'tockiu' o. sand to open my eyes. The
ruth 10, Richardson Is as cold towards
,ur side as o. wet rock. He didn't
want to talk to me Jest now. l tried
o hint that Thnd's oath wasn't wuth
much more'n the ravelin's of rotten
WOOL sock. but he said that was a
erious charge to bring ag'in any cit
zen unless ] was ready to prove it.
I wouldn't surprise me If dozen o.
sgd Hart's gang ain't ready to swear
'ou've made threats agin i'm. Men
Their stripe viii swear of a arm or
leg fur dram o. rotgut, or to
lyenge dead rascal. II they refuse
'ou bail. my boy you must try to
nut up with it,"
II am prepared for anything" said |
ronald, quite calmly. As he spoke he
aught Col. Hasbrooke's eye and held |
t for minute. He noticed ;hai !he |
i'd mans glance was stern and unfor.