Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1901-08-03

hood So she continued her frugal life.
only once In awhile allowing herself
= good warm meal in . downtown
restaurant The rest OF the none she
sewed into the hem of her school gown
and went about without any anxiety
concerning il. IL must last n long time.
In . months time. during which the
search for the murderer was unsvsil-
ing, Bertha found another white en-
vslope ON the door and the same In
closure. She wondered how n came
there. how anyone knew OF her knowl-
edge. who A was that commanded so
much money and whether this was the
end of IL. Bertha knew she was not
silens for the money. but she would
be silent with she money.
Then an arrest came the arrest OF
. relative OF the murdered man.
Bertha had not calculated on the effect
such news would have upon her. In
her soul burned the truth--the knowl-
edge that glance would tell her the
truth. She was In q fever. An inno-
cent man might suffer. Her clear duty
shons before her and or the afternoon
OF the examination Bertha Dunn.
the nuch-drsadsd courtroom. pscked
with spectators.
UDaccustomed 90 the scene. she aid
not even locate the prisoner. but she
failed TO hnd, within the room, the man
of the dark red hair. the peculiar etti-
tude. the long. hshe arm. the naughty
profls. Nor did she understand the
procedure of events She had hurried
down after her school hours and aim
lessly wandered about the city hall a
bong time. too shy 20 inquire her way
inside. There had been a number OF
witnesses examined and now the Judge
and several lawyers we're consulting
together IN low tones. Suddenly thu
group fen apart and . stern voics
sounded through the room;
The prisoner will stand upl"
Bertha could not ace for the crowd
ing forms pushing before and beside
her. She struggled under one mans
elbow and emerged. hatless. 20 hear
the rest OF the judges words:
Arthur Kirby. you stand committed
TO jail without bail for the murder Of
KineAid Homersoni"
But upon the silence that followed
the last word broke in . woman's cry:
''Hel o. no. he did not murder the
man, not bel"
Then arose the Wild sounds Of men
shouting and women weeping with
Y Joy. And the little school teacher was
swept 20 the front and questioned. She
never once swervsd. That was not the
man nor anything like him. she knew
that As 20 the real murderer. she
might or might not know him. but this
young mamie was nothing ike him
He WAS innocent. because abe had seen
! the real murderer, and this was not
him az al.
Why had she not spoksn7
Because she was unable 20 DO any
more than save the innocent Think
Of it-a fash OF steel IN n moment
two forms in a sunshine shaft. then &
body on tAs ground. And shs-slOn.
In a great building with few tsnsnti
and night coming on
The prisoner was discharged De
tectives and officers piled Bertha viii
questions. But she was reticent. Sh'
had saved the innocent; she would no
betray anyone else.
A she entered her humble HON,
after nightfan che was conscious OF {
prssenee OF the stairway behind her
As she fed 20 the security OF her room
hand detained her in the darkness.
Good and wise little woman" sai'
a deep voice, you shall never be for
gotten In al the years 10 come. Tia
man cruelty treated and deserted M
] =
deaths. You shall take her place IN m
eare-althOugh you may never see ms
I an going away now. God help an
bless you,"
Bertha felt Q warm kiss on her hand
A moment later the street doc
siammed-