Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-03-19
court"
ourt.
The prisoner shuddered vislbly.

Wrinkle was talkin' so shore about yore
conviction, he spoke up an lowed that
IL was a shame TO talk of n mans guilt
before his trial. He said it sharp-like,
as II he didn't have much use for
Wnikle, an I noticed that the captain
shut up like a clam. / was surprised,
for I kinder thought the captain was
goin' to get one o. the old mans daugh-
ters."
Ronald had another question ready.
What are my chances on getting
bailed out?"
ITO be perfectly candid with you"
answered Ratclif7, II am afraid you are
goin' TO have big disappointment.
You see, accordin' TO the readin' o the
law, a Justice O. the peace can't set bail
in any case whar thar is reasonable
suspicion of murder, an IL wouldn't
surprise me las the land lies now Tor
you to have TO lie in Jail till the spring
term O. court. I wouldn't say this"
added the sheriff, his eyes averted. if
/ didn't think IL is always better to be
prepared for the worst. / don't want
to give the prosecution chance to ex
ult over yore looks. When told my
wife how the case stood this mornin',
she actually cried. A body never can
tell how Squire Richardson is gwine to
act; he's little wishy-washy; he tries
10 imagine he belongs TO the aristoc-
rncy. Jest a minute ago I seed i'm In
Smiths bar a-drinkin' with Capt.
Wrinkle. I can't imagine why that
little dude is so much concerned In
this trial. I'd bet a boss TO an empty
hens nest that he was talkin' about
this case"
Hes not a friend Of mine," ex-
planned Ronald, despondently.
do you mean that he is q shore
'nough enemy?" questioned Ratcliff,
with some concern.
1T think he would like to see me
suffer as heavily as possible in this
matter, Mr.. Ratcliff."
THAT accounts for It, then" the
sheriff muttered an oath to him
self IT wish that Richardson was
. broader man; he thinks men
Of Wrinkles stamp are just the thing.
However, we mustn't cross a bridge
before we come to it: the truth is,
you've got the best criminal lawyer in
seven states; he hain't got much
schoolin', but he can speak like rips.
He's been scourin' the country to
catch up with Thad Williams: he
wants to corner i'm fore the state So
licitor does. You know Solicitor Webb
would rather win a case'n to eat cake.
If he gets hold of Williams fnst, he'll
drill i'm so as nobody alive could
catch him in crossquestionin. BY the
way, Mr.. Reddin' told me to say TO
you that he'd be too busy to see you
fore the trial. I'll come up to fetch
sou down to the courtroom in plenty
O. time"
A few minutes before two o'clock
the sheriff came after our hero. He
had little to say, and his very reti.
cence confirmed Ronald's fear that nc
new thing in his favor had turned up
since morning. The courtroom was
crowded to the doors. The first face
that fell under the notice OF the dis.
spirited prisoner was the sinister one
of Capt. Winkle who sat suspiciously
near Squire Richardson's elbow; the
next was the round, good-naturcd one
of Col. Hasbrooke; but Ronald had
never seen it look quite so pale and
downcast. The thought ran through
his mind that Wrinkle had reported
the fact of his having been driven &c
Ratclift's by Evelyn. Yes, he was sure
of it now, for nothing but the dis
covery of his daughters secret would
have induced man Of Hasbrooke',
stay-at-home habits to attend court
Ronald felt thrill almost of horro,
pass over him as he thought that per
haps the colonel had come with tn,
sole hope that the trial would perma
nently remove him from the path o.
his daughter. The next moment h,
felt his arm nervously clutched by
Redding.
"Come inside the railin' an set b,
me-" the lawyer whispered, his breath
On his clients cheek "I'r want yor,
suggestions as the case proceeds
Damn It'll" he added, as if to himself
"I'll want anything l can lay hold of
them fellers have got the best show
tn they ever had ag'in an innocen
man." As he spoke he waved hi
hand towards Mr.. Webb, the state so
licitor, q handsome man Of 40, with
bushy mustache and massive hair
who sat only a few feet ava,
with his head close to that of That
Williams. They seemed to be talk
ing Of the case, for the solicitor wa
making notes with a pencil and nod
ding and smiling with evident salts
faction.
"1t's but fair to you, my boy" Rec
ling continued as baiif gave theI
seats on the left of the judges tabl'
TO tell you at the outset that the
have the advantage so far. Don't VI
derstand me to say that you will b
found guilty in tho supreme cour
but my hope fur bail is gettin' awf,
sn,n. I mighty nigh run myself I
death to ketch up with Williams, b.
Webb suspicioned what / was up J.,
an kept I'm hid out Then" III
speaker glanced towards the judg
I'm powerful afraid Richardson Is
well, unsympathetic, to say the leas
Yknow men dad drat 'em!) you don
have to belt me over the head with
stockin' O. sand TO open my eyes, III
truth ls, Richardson is as cold towart
our side as wet rock. He didn
want to talk to noe Jest now. I trie