The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-17


plaintin in the case. Harrison fairly
shrieked. Why, Martin he said, you
were the enc that suggested the whole
thing, and now you're going to quit al
ter I've fixed everything up Pretty
hole you've got me into"
Martin waited awhile. and then said,
as if a sudden idea had seized him. i
say, Harrison, you know, my cousin VINO
came on board at Honolulu and has
+ been sick II her cabin ever since would
60 ahead and take the part; that IS, il
j you viii promise to say nothing about
/ II. She IS fully as tall as am and she
the rope wig. and she can wear her own
clothes much better than I can wear
those of that big, fat stewardess- Then
she II Gaub on tue red paint pretty
strong. SO that II Will look as though
she IS made up. and as no one knows
her, who can say that it isn't me made
up for the part?
Harrison made a jump for Martin and
shook both of his hands cOnvulsively.
Quick, of course. all right, go ahead
and have her get ready AT once.
The august court who was a south
ern politician going out to Singapore as
consul had appeared in the salon and
seated himself on his throne. Then the
lawyers had appeared and INDUCED in a
few preliminary wrangles and the jury
had taken its place and was Immediately
accepted without any quibbling. The
oaillM appeared IN charge of the de-
PENDANT. who was faultlessly arrayed
that it stood straight out and he smoked
a dainty little cigarette OF the reguIa-
ton stage villain kind Every woman
IN the salon said % in breathIess
fashion and applauded gently
Harrison. the counsel for the plaintiff,
/ walked br1skly in and took his seat.
Ready Tor trial. your honor. Call the
pleintiff IN the case. Mrs. John A. La
Verne
A woman dressed in black and heavily
Vslied stepped ma5estically down the
aisle and took her seat in the witness
chair That's young Martin" whis-
pered AkEs. Muttsford- Don't he make
Ane girl2"
We should like said the defendants
eocnsel rising. L the charming and
beautiful plaintiff in this case would be
so GOOD as to raise her veil and let Us
gaze upon her W9ndrous countenancess
me plalntth o5hgingly raised her veil
ana fastened it around her hat La
verne dropped his cigarette and sat
With his eyes suddenly riveted on the
witness his face was white and those
VINO sat near him noticed how he tran-
bled, and commented on his splendid
acting.
Your name asked Harrison. Mrs
John A La Verne"
DO you know this defendant % asked
harrison pointing to Mr. La Verne.
is he any relation to your" asked
Harrison If so. what2"
He IS my husband" said the woman
slowly La Nerne's lips moved slowly.
It's a d-n lie' he muttered
Everybody around turned and looked
at him II surprise. His attorney tapped
MIN on the back Don't make it so serf-
Did this defendant desert you after
your marriage" asked Harrison
de did responded the woman on the
stand He thought had money He
married me for it After a short wear
during which he made the discovery
tnau was poor he treated me cruelty
ma ~ - .
me witness was now leaning forward
and talking rapidly and excitedlv Every
eye IN the salon was fastened on her
u verne sat Ike a man paralyzed.
But III follow him she went on. III
have my revenge. He's is going our to
the east to take a high position in the
consular service Of the government I'll
wait until he has taken his place and
been received in society and then III
appear and tell all Then when broken
and heartsick. he goes elsewhere. III fol-
low him there and strike him down
again III follow him to the ends Of the
world, and If ever he turns his hand
against me I'll shoot him and laugh
while hes gasp1ng for his last breath
The witness had drawn a wicked little
revolver from her pocket and started to
raise It Then she let it slide from her
lap, and dropping her head in her
hands, sobbed convulsively
The audience sat breathless while the
big clock over the captains chair tick
ed as though some one were striking
the table with a hammer. Then the an
plause broke out Men and women
stood on the chairs and shouted and
clapDed their hands Flowers we're
f hurled at the weeping plaintiff. and
from all around came such expressions
Never saw such acting in my life -
By CAD that fellows simply great
George. but that is almost real Great
est thing I ever heard"
The applause finally died down. and
La Verne pale and calm was standing
in his place at the table.
Ny attorney, ne said. SIS overcome
after such a splendid piece Of acting
as We have witnessed here tonight I
myself. believe that to do or say any
more would be in the nature of an
/ aut1-clIDoX. aud feel sue that YOU
would rather this would end now. 50
that you could sc away with this won
+ derIul bit OF realism sharp and keen
IN your memories After the testimony
OF our gifted young friend on the
stand I am ready to plead guilty to
wife abandonment, murder. arson. bal
lot box stuning, or anything else So
your honor. he said turning TO the
Judge. I plead guilty and Offer to the
wrongs papers emitting her to all Of a
little fortune I received not long since
of o.000. I have the papers on board
snip and can send them TO her to-
night"
LaVerne sat down. while the audience
applauded again The plaintiff nodded
assent and the judge, after heaping
many warm compliments on the mag
nifcent bit OF acting to which the
plaintiff had treated them. adjourned
the court
The men sat in the smoking room
that night for a long time discussing
the mock trial
'LaVerne isn't such a bad actor.
either one Of them was saying He
plays q joke out to the end. too. I Just
met one Of the Chinese boys a moment
ago carrying q lot Of legal looking pa
peEs that LaNerne had given him
down to Martins room. keeping up the