Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-01-11
Prom
Darkness
To Light

ing to rear rs an eventual barrier TO your
return to the old home and life, to the
restoration of your daughter, and the
public acknowledgment Of your inno-
ccnce. You have not, indeed; and no
man would shrink at going through
little temporary harass and delay to in
sure such result"
"Tell me Of"
"No," interposed Mark. with that reso-
lutte frmness of his which was so quiet;
II will tell You nothing of Nora. what
a persistent fellow you are, to return 10
that request again. in spite OF me! NO,
you would only say l exaggerate every
thing. IL there is one subject dare not
trust myself to talk Of just now" lie
added, both his eyes and voice earnest,
ut Is that which fills my thoughts as
well as yours. Come, you, who have so
bravely spent three years OF exile ana
denial, would never show the white feath'
| or at the very last, when such diher-
ent life Is opening. just because we must
| needs stumble over the threshold. I'm
| afraid that adroit and patient officer Is
very tired of keeping his eye upon me.
He so thoroughly deserves his reward at
last, that will 20 and anticipate 1t for
him."
50 when, ten minutes afterward. the
man who had waited until this hour 10
arrest Arthur Poynz, caIiie up to the
room to act upon his information, Mark
came with him: and the departure Of the
three seemed quite. simple au natural,
and altogether unlike legal arrest.
.
"Doylc," whispered Mark. In his leis.
urely way-the Irish lawyer sat anxiously
scrutinixing tho faces In the police court
while Lord Keston spoke to him-"Dr.
Armstrong looks pretty confident Of hold
ing the winning cards, Ell"
The lawyer nodded, without q word, his
attention thoughtfully fixed upon Nuel
Armstrong when he was sworn. Then
he followed every word, a. DR.. Arm.
| strong testified to the fact that Arthur
Poynx had been suspected Of administer
ing poison In the year 1858, to one Gath
crime Say, at Heaton Place, In the Coun-
ty Of Surrey, and had escaped before the
conclusion Of the inquest, throwing his
hat and cloak into certain lake Of deep
water, with intent to elude the law by a
suppostitious death.
All this Nuel Armstrong was slowly
and distinctly making evident In his an
swers, when the presiding magistrate
broke the thread of information with q
question which-as far rs the listeners
could tell-had at that moment struck
i him.
Were you sworn upon the Gospels?"
II was sworn" returned Nuel, with
the air Of scornfully dismissing an irrel-
evant subject, lin tho usual way"
do you." continued the magistrate,
unmoved, "belicve In the Gospcls?"
With the calm and supcrcilious smile
which 30 often stirred his thin lips, DIR.
Armstrong glanced into one or two Of
the faces around him, and answered.:
II believe In them, Of coursc-as men
generally believe In them--as detached
portions Of tho history Of certain
epoch"
do you believe In them?" persisted
the magistrate, without the slightest
change In the expression either Of his
face or voice.
II acknowledge" Nuei answered, still
with the smile upon his lips. lust what
all sensible and thoughtful men acknowl.
cdge-that they are trustworthy records
Of a particular age. And beyond that, I
consider myself bound In honor to speak
| tue tIutus uuu the WuOj0 truth, uttec be-
ing sworn upon them"
"Thcre Is no need at all for you to en-.
large upon the subject" returned the
magistrate, briefly. "Your answer can
only DO word. DO you believe In tho
Scrlptures--yes or NOT"
"In general way. and for this pur-
pose, i"
ATTEND to my question. IL you please"
interrupted the magistrate. with cmpha.
sis on the reiterated query. do you
believe In the inspiration Of those Cos.
pels on which you have been sworn? II
you do not, your oath cannot DO taken"
"I-no man believes In the WHOLE" as
serted Nucl, his plausible smile growing
an effort to him, as his fury was reused.
But ! consider myself bound on my
oath to utter only what Is the truth"
"Then," observed the magistrate. In a
rather raised. quick voice, you do not
believe In a God?'
II do not understand such a question
here" returned DIR. Armstrong, his lips
tightening more and more as his eyes
fell upon the bent head, and easy. appar-
emily inattentlve expression Of Mark
Poynz.
1T Is simple question. Have the
kindness to answer 1t simply, too"
II do not understand the term"
II think ! may safely say, then" re.
marked the magistrate. pointedly, "tha,
you are tho only man present who does
not do So"
''There may be Being Of"
mo circuit Of words. IL you please
was the reply, uttered with growing EN-
phasis. II call upon you to say IL you
believe that there Is GodY'
II have already answered that ques
tion," replied Nuel, his lips growing hard
and dry upon his teeth.
mo. you have not"
II have already said believe In por
lions Of the history where that name Il
mentioned"
"You do not believe. then" insisted the
magistrate, impatiently at last, "in the
Gospels ON which you have been sworn 2?
II do not
"YOu do not? Stand down, II YOU
please. will not allow any ono to be
accused by one who dares stand here and
deny his Maker, or publicly avow his dis
belief In the Scriptures on which he is
as a witness, sworn. Stand down.
Lord Keston," whispered Mr.. Doyle
his face red In his irresistible excitement