The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-02-17
The DISTRICT ATTORNEYS STURY.
BY ANTHONY GOULD.

NSOA oAHN NA4G AAA4C IA AAN D~AA5
known only to myself and Naire,
Thus, everything seemed in capital
shape; yet my anxiety was keen, as l
have said, and it kept increasing. The
very lack of ~unfayorable signs was in
iself unfavorable. The opposition were
so strong, and yet SO inert. Might not
the fault be in myself rather than in
them? Might not their passivity be
due t some means of success, already
devised. Of which L was ignorant?
Senator Branscome's face kept fash
ing before me in the watches OF the
night. rudy. confident, yirile; with its
aggressive tuft of white whisker, It's
sly, twinkling eyes, its shapeless, bru-
tai lips. Strength, logged, remorseless
strength, glimmered through the mask.
Would such a mar loose his hold on
any valued thing. to say nothing Of po-
sitiOn. liberty, future, without a SUI
preme. selfish effort? And yet, though
mis- trial was at hand, a simple issue,
easily proved, more easily believed, not
an application had been made to post
pone. set aside. change venue, OF do
any other Of the hundred d~ilatory
things through which corrupt wealth
seeks to avoid the day Of reckoning. No
wonder, I was increasingly anxious!
1t was the night before the eventful
day. For the last time Naire and
had gone over the order of proof and
found it good and sufficient. l was
ready to go home. and stood waiting
for him to join me.
Don't wait" he said, looking up from
the long table piled with papers. q
i know | must seem fussy; but, I want
I +. La,-z o,-o,-4l;~- - o15 ~ WV an
gers ends"
AS walked toward my lodgings, dis
satisfied, and intent on fathoming the
sources of my dissatisfaction, & tai
form doomed l~eisurely through the
gloom. 1t was Wales, my predecessor
Hello, my boy he said, how are
things looking?
They look all right" l answered
modify, but the wise do not trust in
appearances"
I near the Senator is very conf
dent"
Confident" I cried passionately;
YOU know the case as we'll as I do
al rest? On the law, the facts, OF
some devilish. elusive. secret inhu-
ance-"
why 1 warned you, didn't l, Of what
o must expect? Listen, Slayden, its
a delicate matter to speak to a man 81
the makeup Of his offce-but ! lik
YOU. / have a lien on your success.
was just on my way to show you a Gu
rious paragraph in a letter my wife re-
caived today from her sister who ha:
heen in Europe for the last few years
See, here it is"
7 InTl thu llrtn- rrn1n, thu Hfrl-nrin
light on the corner, and read as follows
Tell me all the news of the town
especially how young Naire whom W.
met and liked go muc at Zurich, /
getting on since his return. 1 hope h
has recovered his spirits; he was dole
full enough after Sophia Branscome jilt
ed him"
Rather significant, hey" SAX
Wales voice from some i~mmeasurabl
distance.
Significant! 1 grasped his arm 70
support, SO shaken I was by my rushln:
thoughts. Naire, hopelessly devoted t
Miss Branscome? 1t might we'll be
The Senator and family had made fire
quent trips abroad. Then, why then
this fascinating, resourcefuI youn;
woman must have inspired those socia
IlIIIcIlCeS III Ills DeIdlL, lndl Hdu dlCS'
his appointment. Why? Why, of course
to have a friend in the enemy's camp
one who would yield to the bride whicl
it was in her power TO offer. Woult
not this account for the confidence o
the defence; for my immunity from ap
proach? On, fool that I was-Nair
had been beguiling me, leading me b,
the nose
DIT ~. -,,oI -rN10nrnl Irn1iaif- mo
incredible in him. Yield he might t
such a temptation, coming Elddenly
unexpectedly; but he never could hav
faced me day after day without also be
traying himself. No, no; he vas stil
faithful to me but a few moment
since, when 1 left him at the office.
Suppose you were one of the attor
neys for the defence, Wales" I asked
what would you want the most on go
ing to trial tomorrow"
Why the documents in the case, Q
course" he answered promptly
Where would you be, if after openin
the case, they were missing? / shout
want them the most, but not until tn
very last moment, so that you NIGH
not be taken by surprise"
Of courseI Without the note, o
which the expert testimony depended
without the bills. to be identified by tn
!. teller. our case would collapse for lac
OF c~orroboration. And I had left Nair
alone in the Office on he very nigh
when a plot to get them should be cal
ried out. If at all. Why had he linger
ed. wearing out my patience by h
fussing with the papers? Granted. h
was still loyal: had there not bee
something unnatural in his manner.
an unusual silence a thoughtfulness re
mote from our work? Suppose Mis-
Branscome had sent him a single linz
asking a meeting. for the SAX of oil
times. to explain Might he not be fe
verishly waiting this very instant, al
: sorbed by passion, stimulated by hop,
oblivious Of the present. the case, h
sworn duty
Wales. Wales" 1 cried, breakin
into a run, Come back to the offc
/ with me-"
5 The night was cold and black; tn