Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1902-12-17
CHAPTER XIII.

friends, who desired to convey by sig
nal their desire that he should not get
himself into trouble
81 have done nothing that l know of
to be threatened or to be ashamed of,
said Jack defiantly land l say again,
my lords and gentlemen, l am not
afraid of discriminating myself. Do
your worst"
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 still. All the
immediate interest of the trial was
conferred in Meadows. For the moment
it was as If 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 a ghost. He adj
mired the courage, the bravado Of the
witness, and could not help a passing
regret that this brave fellow had not
been his companion instead of that
wretched Foster, who had so 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
lordships host in York, but had been
friend Of the judge at college, whis
pered:
Forgive me; this young man was
the girls lover; he thinks he is serving
her by his reticente; he is as henest
and true young fellow as there is in
all the country"
The judge listened to his friend with
a sign of impatience; but the remark
no doubt had good effect.
Witness" he said, but for your
very evident position here and what is
due to the court l should at once COM
NIT you for contempt; but l am willing
to postpone my decision in that direc-
tion until the close of the day; what
course | shall then pursue will depend
upon your own conduct meanwhile"
Thank you, my lord" said the wit
ness, amidst general sigh of relief.
Now, sir, listen to me. You went to
the Heather-pell tavern and warned
the prisoner that he was suspected of
the murder Of Squire Bellingham?"
mo, did not.
"The landlord has sworn to the con-
trary. / have every desire to be gen
erous to you, Mr.. Meadows, consistent
with my duty, and have been remind
ed that you are my witness. 1 there
fore go out of my way to inform you
that the landlord of the Heather bell
has told us exactly the contrary"
Has he?" said Meadows Then he
has not told the truth"
you persist in that?"
81 do"
Then you may stand down"
Stay a moment" said the counsel
for the defense, proceeding to cross-ex-
anime the witness in the most friendly
manner. Meadows was not man he
would have called for the defense.
"You did not warn the prisoner that he
was suspected of the murder of Squire
Bellingham?"
"No, sir"
"Why did you not?"
Because l did not know that he had
been murdered.
when was the first time you knew
officially of the murder and the name
of the victim?"
"On Oct. 25'
you remember that date distinctly, >
remarked the judge.
Eyes, my lord"
"Why?"
Because, my lord, 1t was Mary Lock
woods birthday, and l had always
been accustomed to take her a little
present to the Star and Garter on the
25th, and thinking about it, mother
came in to where l was smoking a pipe
with her brother, and she said they
had found Squire Bellingham's body
and that he had been murdered"
IF the learned counsel has finished
his ss-examination"-the learned
counsel nodded to the judge to signify
that he had-"you may stand down;
/ shall not commit you for contempt
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 dead ST
lence as the poor girl was assisted int
the witness box.
She wore simple hat and cloak, thu
latter completely enyeloping her figure
the hat tied with black ribbon unde
, her chin. She was very pale, but Thu
heightened her beauty in the estima
! tion of the ladies and gentlemen of thu
country, who were present in grea
Numbers.
Instead Of the strong, hearty rura
beauty they had expected. they saw
young woman of refined and gentl
J | lnnn.hnr with soft hli1a nrnn md Lon.