Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-09-05

would not have gone INTO atC'dftroom
to testify for $4,000. However, the no.
tice had curious effect. She decided
to use the other money, little at
time. She went to the post office and
sent a generous remittance home, al
though not enough to excite any sus-
picion. This quiet little woman was
not without much shrewdness. She
felt that any change in her circum-
stances would excite suspicion among
those who still watched the neighbor-
hood So she continued her frugal life,
only once in awhile allowing herself
a good warm meal in a downtown
restaurant. The rest of the money she
sewed into the hem of her school gown
and went about without any anxiety
concerning it.. 1t must last long time.
Ina months time, during which the
search for the murderer was unavail
ing, Bertha found another white en-
velope on the floor and the same in
closure. She wondered how it came
there, how anyone knew of her knowl-
much money and whether this was the
end of it, Bertha knew she was MOI
silent for the money, but she would
be silent with the money.
Then an arrest came, the arrest OF
a 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 a glance would tell her the
truth. She was in a fever. An inno-
cent man might suffer. Her clear duty
shone before her and on the afternoon
of the examination Bertha Dunn,
pallid and grave, worked her way into
the much-dreaded courtroom, packed
with spectators.
Unaccustomed to the scene, she did
not even locate the prisoner, but she
failed to find, within the room. the man
of the dark red hair, the peculiar atti-
tude, the long, 1.-the arm, the naughty
profile. Nor did she understand the
procedure of events. She had hurried
down after her school hours and aim.
lessly wandered about the city hall
long time, too shy to inquire her way
inside. There had been a number of
witnesses examined and now the judge
and several lawyers were consulting
together in low tones. Suddenly the
group fell apart and a stern voice
sounded through the room:
1.-THE prisoner will stand up!"
Bertha could not see for the crowd
ing forms pushing before and beside
her. She struggled under one mans
elbow and emerged, hatless, to hear
the rest of the judges words:
arthur Kirby, you stand committed
to Jail without bail for the murder OF
Kincaid Homerson!"
But upon the silence that followed
the last word broke in a woman's cry:
"He! o, no, he did not murder the
man, not he!"
Then arose-the wild sounds of men
shouting and women weeping with
10Y. And the little school teacher was
swept to the front and questioned. She
never once swerved. That was not the
man nor anything like him. She knew
that. AS to the real murderer, she
might or might not know him, but this
young mamie was nothing like him.
He was innocent, because she had seen
the real murderer, and this was not
him at all.
Why had she not spoken?
Because she was unable to do any
more than save the innocent. Think
of it-a fash of steel in a moment
two forms in a sunshine shaft, then
body on the ground. And she-alone
in a great building with few tenants
and night coming on.
The prisoner was discharged. De
tectives and officers piled Bertha with
questions. But she was reticent. She
had saved the innocent; she would not
betray anyone else.
As she entered her humble home
after nightfall she was conscious of ii
presence on the stairway behind her.
AS she fed to the security of her room
a hand detained her in the darkness.
Good and wise little woman" said
a deep voice, "you shall never be for
gotten in all the years to come. That
man cruelty treated and deserted my
sister years ago. He deserved ten
deaths. You shall take her place in my
care-although you may never see ME.
I am going away now. God help and
bless you'll"
Bertha felt warm kiss on her hand.
A moment later the street door
| slammed