Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-07-19
CHAPTER XIV.
Continued.


witness.
Tongues had been bus. with her
name since the crowd fled out of the
court. No one could doubt the import
of the questions the coroner had put TO
Miss Bostal. Ii was plain that Nell.
the only person. except Clifford. who
was known TO have had any cause OF
ill-wiil toward the deceased man. now
lay under the suspicion of being con
cerned in his death.
Perhaps the girl herself. when she
came from the magistrates room into
the court. was the only person present
who did not realize the position in
which she stood. For she alone had
been absent when the searching qSes-
tions were being put to her friend.
Nell made bad impression from the
very first. She was wrapped up to the
eyes in 4 long, squirrel-lined cloak and
a boa of brown fur. and she wore a
large hat, which helped TO hide even
the outline of her lace from the crowd
in the court behind her. But from the
glimpse which could be caught Of her
features as she moved hurriedly into
the place pointed out to her. 1t was evil
dent that her far-famed beauty was
for 4 time under eclipse, for her CON-
plexiOn was blurred with crying and
her blue eyes looked sunKen and color
less.
All that seemed TO concern her was
: to hide as much OF her face as she
could. and to give her answers so that
they should be heard by as few per-
sons as possible. Throughout the
whole of her evidence she had to be
admonished TO speak up" and to an
swer at once and straightforwardly,
instead of taking time TO think out her
replies. as she showed a strong dispo-
sition to do.
Altogether she was q bad witness.
decidedly the worst of them all. Not
even nervous Mrs. Mann gave so much
trouble. II there had been no breath
ef suspicion of the girl before she
stood in the witnesses place. her man.
ner and her answers would have been
sufficient to arouse the feeling in all
those who heard and saw her give evil
dence.
"You are the niece of Mr. George
Claris. believe? And you were pres
ent when the quarrel took place be-
tween the deceased and Mr.. Clifford
King?"
There was no quarrel. Jem Stick
King with his knife through the win
dow. He stabbed him."
And Mr.. King struck him back?"
! -'No Yes. At least he caught hold
Yf him and flung him away"
"Flung him to the ground. in fact?"
81 don't know whether he meant to
DO that"
But, as a matter of fact. the de-
ceased did fall to the ground, and lay
there. stunned"
HE struck his head against the
ledge of the window"
ayes. Do you know the reason why
the deceased attacked Mr.. King:"
Nell made no answer.
81 am sorry TO have to press for an
answer. Remember, there is nothing
whatever discreditable to a lady in
being the object of jealousy between
two hot-blooded young men. believe
;. st is an undoubted fact that Jem Stick
els. the deceased. was jealous of Mr..
King. and that ii was the sight of Mr..
King and YOU together which pro-
yoked him to attack a rival whom he
regarded. rightly or wrongly, as more
favored than himself"
Nell blundered into hasty. incohe-
rent answer:
mo. 1t was not that He didn't.
He couldn't. 1t was not that he was
Jealous. l always hated Jem Stick
els. and he knew it. How could he be
Jealous when detested him?"
And for the first and last time in the
course of her evidence Nells voice was
loud enough to be heard throughout
the court as she uttered this terribly
damaging speech.
When she had spoken and stood star
ing at the coroner with wide-open
eyes a great wave Of horror passed
over the court. and the jury to a man
felt sorry for her. They had all known
this dissipated fisherman. they all felt
tAC VA ACPuSAuuIC LuuSI nave
existed between this refined young
girl and him. And. while the conclu-
sion was forced in upon their minds
that she had taken violent means to
rid herself of him and his persecution,
they felt that they would have given
a great deal to have been able to hush
the matter up.
For while the loathing she so frankly
expressed gave reason and almost
an excuse for her crime. on the other
hand her fearless avowal of feeling
now. when it was so greatly to her in
terest to hide Ii, seemed TO show that
she was in a state of mind in which
she could hardly be considered respon-
sibie for her actions.
Meanwhile, however, the inquiry had
20 go on.
"Well. then" pursued the coroner,
getting away from the fatal subject
and speaking with extra dryness to
hide his own sympathy. you went TO
Colonel Bostaps house. and you and
1iss Bostal went together to see Jem
hels at his lodging to ask how he
.aTs