Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-03-14
4 SHREWD
WOMAN

NURING a trial held in the town of
III Merrivale the court was crowded
to it's utmost capacity, while an i'm
patient mass of swaying humanity
awaited the verdict outside. 1t was
a case of phenomenal interest. Two
young fellows of good family, COM
panions since childhood, had set
themselves to earn fame and fortune,
or the latter at least, in their ma
tive place; Albert Meyrick as an art
ist, Herbert Carlston as a physician.
Their love for each other was broth
erly;. yet love proved the gulf which
separated them. Both had been fas-
cinated with the charms of a sunny
haired, brighteyed, laughing beauty.
Her admirers were legion; but her
favors were equally bestowed between
these two.
One morning people were horHfed
with the report of murder. Meyrick
had been shot in his studio. A revof-
yer was found on the table few
inches from the dead body. The bull
let, which, after passing through his
head, had lodged in the wall opposite,
exactly fitting the chamber, and was
precisely similar to the others which
the revolver contained. Both revol-
vers and cartridges were proved to
have been bought by Carlston within
"a hours previous to the crime. He
was known to have been at the house
at about the time of the crime. All
these things he fully admitted. Only
one fact he denied; but this was the
evidence that chiefly, condemned him.
Edna Dalton, the girl through jea1-
ousy of whom he was supposed to
have committed the murder, swore to
seeing him close to the house. In
deed, she had spoken to him; but he
strangely passed her, refusing to
speak. The general evidence against
him was so Overwhelming that there
could be no doubt of the issue. The
prisoner had condemned himself by
his own admissions; yet he emphat-
icaly asserted his innocence.
The eventful day of the trial came.
Counsel had labored for and against
him. The judge had summed up; the
jury retired to consider. The breath
less hush of suspense was oppressive.
Presently door opened. Twelve men
solemnly took their seats.
Guilty or not guilty?"
e'Guilty!"
A piercing shrek, awful from it's
burden of agony, rang through The
court. Edna's unconscious form was
borne out. For the first time the
prisoner quailed. Throughout the
trial he had behaved with almost in
different GOODNESS. Her voice I'M
manned him. He buried his face in
his hands, grooming aloud and trem-
bling violently. With an effort he re-
gained his manly bearing.
Asked if he had any reason to state
why sentence should not be passed,
he drew himself up, and in a firm,
clear voice. said:
To-day my words are an empty
sound; one day they will have great
power, though they will come back
from the cold depths of the grave. I
am innocent. No man will believe me.
1ieve an avenging justice will surely
bring truth to light. Then I WISH you
to remember my words"
The sentence of death was passed,
the voice. of the judge being scarcely
audible amidst the sobs of some of
the women present.
One person alone seemed unaffect-
ed. With the quiet demeanor of a
hero, Herbert folded his arms to re-
ceive his doom without a culver.
To the last momentous words:
MAY the Lord have mercy on your
soul!" he responded with firm but
reverent "Amen!''
Mr.. Dickinson, Herbert's lawyer,
was disturbed in his Office by young
lady, whom he failed at first to rec
ognize as Edna Dalton.
What a marvellous change! Her bag
gard face, large eys, looking larger
from their sunken sockets, the fierce,
determined expression of her face,
made the experienced lawyer betray
his surprise in spite of himself. Was
this the airy, smiling creature of a
few weeks ago? She had aged gears.
He placed a seat for her, and inquired
the object of her visit.
.tTo free Herbert Carlston! He is in
nocent, and I have discovered the cul-
prit!"
The lawyer looked at her, but did
not speak.
Perhaps, you think me mad? Well,
] have not been far from it. While
you men have pitied him and won
dered, 1, "a weak wor6an, have worked -
Have you any evidence of your
statement?"
ample. The murderer has a foot
two inches longer than Herbert. He
wore a pair of old overshoes with a
cut across the left sole. Herbert
never possessed such things. On that
night he wore a light suit, the sus-
pected man wore a dark tweed suit,
with red thread-rather peculiar
kind of material, lighter in weight