The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-23
CONTROL OF CIRCUMSTANCES
By o. A. LANE.

nitric acid, and the prosecuting attorneys have
in their possession half a bottle of the acid
left, which will he introduced as evidence"
Oats straight guv-ner.''
And now, will you pay nae 5000 II have
you accultted?" =
Don't jolly me-, guv-ner. You know it
cant be did. I've got de ewag all right; but,
say, swag don't go wild dat judge ner wild de
jury dat 5 to try me. knows"
I don't bribe judges and turies,'' said Mar
vail coldly. VIII You pay me that fee?''
Yes, but say
Then that closes our business. And now.
listen. I will net zee you again until your
case comes up for trial. It is set for next
Wednesday, six days from to-day. No matter
what do at that trial, you are not to show
surprise. Narvall turned and called to the
warden F.. -, ...---. ... - - =
Just er minute guv ner. DO you b'Iieys
I'm guilty?" .-t-.... ,- - sE.--
1.-THE judge and jury will decide that MY
duty Is not to determine whether or not you
are guilty, but to establish your innocence"
He turned and walked out r. ~ ss-s.-
For long after he had gone, Burton sat IN
deep thought. ''By God!' he said. admir-
ingly. and stretched out on his narrow cot
and went to sleep. s-s-7=-- {
The six days passed by slowly to Burton.
At times he thought that, after all, Narvall
must have been "jollying him. but In the
end the first impression Of him still re-
manned 4.u --..5s..s - =
At last the day for which his trial was
set arrived. He was taken into the courtroom
and his case called The jury was drawn
and impaneled and the witnesses for the
state were examined. Every iota OF the tes-
timony was against Burton. When the state
solicitor rose to make~t the opening argument
the net of circumstances that surrounded
Burton was without broken strand Not
! a man on the jury doubted that he was gull
| ty. The state solicitor ended with smile
| of triumph. This would be one more con-
| viction to his credit. --.-~
Then Narvall rose. He was slightly paier
| than usual, but a faint smile hovered about
| the corners of his mouth. "'.
| IF it please your honor and gentlemen OF
| the jury, In the face Of such evidence as has
| been introduced, / have but one argument
to make. They tell you that deceased died
from the effects of half the contents OF this
bottle, administered by the defendant" He
picked Mp the little vial and looked at It
| thoughtfully. And now, gentlemen, II that
bo so, 1t must necessarily follow that the
remaining contents will have the same effect
upon human being as the other half is
alleged to have had. This, assert II will
| his speech; every eye was fxed on NarYalI's
cold, inscrutable face. None but Burton saw
the small capsule that slipped from between
| Narvall's fingers into the vial.
| Yes, in spite of the fact that learned
chemists have testified to the contrary, saw
that. this Is not poison. And now for the
proof" He raised the vial to his lips and
before the astonished attorney, who sprang
forward, could reach him, he had drained
every drop. - -
A low murmur Of horror. went up from ths
crowd without the bar. a stiffness as Of
death reigned for a few moments and was
broken by the calm, collected voice of Mar
vail:
Gentlemen, II within half an hour / am
dead OF course the defendant Is guilty; 9TH
/ erwise you can but aequit him.
An hour later, when the jury had brought
in verdict of mot guilty Burton pressed
forward and extended his hand to Naryali.
The latter stared at it coldly
; II guess you're right, guv'ner," said Bur-
ton. You're gentleman"