The National tribune., 1902-01-09

''Umph, humph! I thought as much,
declared Pettis.
why? why?" gasped La Boone grasp
! ing the arm of his lawyer much as de
| Spairing person would seize an only hope
Because Lucas and the school-maste
were closeted half the night last night
and | feared they were Matching up some
thing. :.
It's a lie-it's all lieI They cam
prove it, gasped La Boone.
Il don't know what they can or cam
| prove, Mr. La Boone. | am not pre-
| pared to face proof that the record!
have been changed. 1t would ruin us, ant
if you know such thing could be proved
| we had better dismiss it.
The worst enemy La Boone ever haG
| would have pitied him at that moment
had he seen him. The expression of agony
on his face beggars description. His
heart beat as if he had been listening t
his cwn death sentence.
Amt there no way out of it; amt there
no way Out? he asked, wringing his
| hands rs visions of fine tracts of broad
acres slipped from his grasp.
u think the cause should be continued
don't see any way out, save a con
tinuance."
We'll, continue"
''But how?"
81 have it," declared MuIdrom, spring,
ing to his feet and striking a decidedly
stage-like attitude. Il have it"
What is your plan, MuldrOm"
If the fact that one of the counsel ne
cessary to the successful prosecution will
not be sufficient
And it will not, if they urge a trial,
and | know Lucas wiil'-
Then, | am an important witness.
You expect to prove by me certain ad-
missions made by the defendant in st.
Louis and his son in st. Charles. I alone
heard them. Those admissions are essen
tial to fair and impartial trial. La
Boone can swear out a continuance"
But if you heard them began the
lawyer.
4 am gone-I have Disappeared" de-
clared muldrom. Il am absent-yan-
ished."
Il comprehend you, sir
Would it not give cause for con-
tinuance?'
Yes, sir; but it would not be honorable
sir, and l scorn'-
''Oh, you needn't scorn; will do that
for you-I am gone"
He threw himself down at a table and
wrote out an affidavit, which he told Mr.
La Boone to sign and take before the
clerk
asked Mr.. Pettis.
Yes, sir: issued yesterday, but not yet
served"
The scoundrel had had the subpoena is
sued only an hour before, but dated it
back and sent the Deputy, who did not
know him, to a country house FIVE miles
away, to serve it.
Muldrom was more shrewd than La
Boone, but not so deep nor so cunning
The latter could lay deep schemes, but it
required the auxiliary plans of the willy
MuldrOm to execute them.
When he had drawn up the proper affi-
davit and given La Boone instructions in
regard to it, he took up his hat and, bid
ding the astonished lawyer and his client
a very good-day, took his departure.
He had not been gone an hour before
La Boone went to the post office and re-
ceived a letter bearing the post mark of
st. Louis. He broke the seal and read:
''Air. Peter A La Boone
Sir: This is to notify you that | can no
longer serve you in the capacity of attor
ney, advocate, or adviser.
''T. H. Benton"
La Boone was furious with rage He
stamped, and swore all kinds of ven
geance.
He's forsaken me now" wheezed the
old man. He's n politician, and he's
afeerd it might beat him for Congress or
the Senate when the Territory's State.
Dom him-I wish he would be beat. III
beat him. too, T | can"
But then he thought of the case, and
that darling section of beautiful, rich
land, and hastened to file the affidavit be-
fore court resumed its session.