Rocky Ford enterprise., 1902-02-28
CHAPTER XIII.

hiHh'it iHtb tItuDit-
81 have done nothing that know OF
to be threatened or to be ashamed o..
said Jack detiantly. "and | say again.
my lords and gentlemen. am not
afraid OF discriminating myself Do
your worJt.'
The Judge sat up very straight In his
throne OF Justice. the learned counsel
for both prosecution and defense stood
up.
The court was deadly stiil. All the
Immediate Interest OF the trial was
centered in Meadows. For the moment
II was as II he were on trial, not the
prisoner at the bar.
The prisoner. Parker. flushed to the
roots OF his hair with excitement. and
then became pale as ghost. lie ad-
niircd the eourage. the bravado OF the
witness. and could not help a passing
regret that this brave fellow had not
been his companion instead Of that
~r.tchcd Foster. who had 80 far saved
his neck. though he was a thousand
times more guilty than he.
AS the judge was about to speak. the
high sheriff. who was not only his
iordshlp's host IN York. but had been
4 friend OF the Judge at college. whis-
pcrsd:
Forgive me: this young man was
the girls lover: he thinks he Is serving
her by hs r-tiecnec: b. iH as honest
and true a young fellow na there Is in
all the country
The judsr listened to his friend with
a sign of impa,icnec: but the remark
no doub, had good effect.
Witness" he said. but for your
very evident position her, and what In
due TO the court I should nj onc- COM
mi, you for contempt: hut am willing
TO postpone my decision in tha, dir-c-
tioa until the close Of the day: what
course shall then purauc will depend
upon your own conduct mssnwhilc.''
Thank you. my lord said tn. wit
ness. amidst general sigh of relief.
New. sir. listen to me. You went TO
the Hea,hrr-boii tavern aud warned
the prisoner that he was suspected OF
the murder OF Squire neiiiaEhams''
NO. did not
"Thc landlord has sworn TO the con-
'rary. have ~ycry desire to bc gen
-rotis 10 you. NF. Meadows. consistent
with my duty. and have bccn remind
cd 'ha, you arc my witness. there
forc 81 out OF my way TO inform you
that the landlord of the iicathcr.bcii
has told is exactly the contrary
Has her. said Meadows. Then he
has no, told the truth
"fou persist in that
''i do"
Then you may stand down.
stay moment" said the counsel
for the defense. proceeding to crcsz-cS-
anime the witness In the most friendly
manner. Meadows waR no, man be
would have called for III. defense.
''Yoa did no, warn the prisoner tha, he
vas suspected OF the murder OF Squire
DciilnshsmT''
No. sir.''
why lid yuu noty-'
because did no, know ,ha, he had
been murdered
when was the nEst time you knew
officially OF the murder and the name
of the vIctimT-'
''on Oct. s5.''
"You remember that date distinctly
remarked the judge.
Yes. my lord
why
because. my lord. IL was Mary Lock
woods birthday. and had always
been accustomed to take her a little
present to the Star and Garter on the
ssth. and thinking about IL. mother
came in to where was smoking q pipe
with her brother. and she said they
had found Squire Bellingham's body.
a n. a A..
'if the learned counsel has finished |
his cross-cxamination''- Itarnrd
counsel nodded to the judge to signify |
that he had-"you may stand down:
I shall not commit you for contcmp;
Of court
Mary Lockwood was the next wit
ness.
on her name being called. there was
a general buzz of conversation through |
out the court, followed by a dead 81. |
iencc as the poor girl was assisted into
the witness box.
She wore a simple hat and cloak. the
latter completely enveloping her figure.
the hat tied with black ribbon under
her chin. She was very pale. but this
heightened her beauty in the estjma.
tion of the ladies and gentlemen Of the
country. who were present in grea,
numbers.
Instead of the strong. hearty. rural
beauty they had expected. they saw a
young woman of refined and gentle
bearing. with soft blue eyes ami long
lasbes that fell in dark lines upon her
checks. When she spoke they heard
soft. sweet voice. the sorrowful tones
of which made many OF the ladies
weep even before they had come to
the most touching incidents of her evil
denee. e
The prosecution having decided not
to call old Morley. the ostler's evidence
being deemed sufficient as to the ar
rival and Identification of the stranger
AI...i.-..