Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1904-02-04
CHAPTER XIV.


ment terminated the morning ses-
sion Of the court. A scene more dra-
matte and thrilling had never been
witnessed in that room and during
the recess for dinner the excitement
communicated itself over the entire
city. Franklin was credited with be-
ing man of nerve, and many thought
he would attack Lawyer Everett
when court had adjourned; and at
one time when they were thrown nc
cidentally together in the crowd, it
looked as il collision were newt
able. But Franklin, if he thought Of
it at all, put the inclination aside,
and no trouble occurred. 1t is pos
sible that he was too much concerned
about the damaging facts brought out
against him and with speculations as
10 the proof held in reserve by Ever
EFT to squander his time in personal
alteration. During the recess he
rushed from place to place, putting a
number of agencies to work to bring
his forces together. He wanted Hills
man. There was worl, for Old Tom
and his comrade. He needed Meri-
vale. But defeat confronted him at
every step. He seemed to be abso-
lutely deserted, for nowhere were his
accomplices to be found; and when
the recess was over he felt that he
had accomplished nothing.
"Mr. Everett" said Warde, as they
were going together toward the
courthouse, "you have a great dra-
matte instinct. The most skilled
French playwright could. not have
arranged a more startling climax
than you did this morning in court"
"Perhaps there is an art in this
kind of thing rs well as playwright
ing. I have always endeavored in
case like this to give it color, to make
sharply defined points, to make it I'M
fold itself, to give it go"
"But wasn't it little risky to in
troduce your climax in the first act,
as it were?"
"Not in this case, which goes from
climax to climax. Even you will be
startled when get through with the
testimony. have a little surprise
which l have kept in store for you
particularly"
II thought knew this case inside
out"
"Wait and see if you do"
They had some difficulty in making
their way through the dense crowd
to their places within the railing.
When the court resumed its sitting,
Mr.. Everett said he had no further
questions to ask the witness Frank
lin, and he would turn him over to
the state. The prosecuting attorney
waved cross-examination for he was
in some perplexity as to what he
wanted to learn. Nothing that Frank
lin had said had invalidated his case,
and il he were guilty the prosecutor
did not care to assist him at the ex-
pense of an innocent man.
Irving Warde was accordingly put |
on the witness stand. He told his |
story well; how he had traced the |
footprints in the snow that cold
morning in December, how his inter
est in the case-which was known to
Franklin-had been attended with
personal danger, and IN attempt had
been made to murder him at Peters
Rest; how he had obtained the agree
ment from Hillsman and what Frank
lin had said to Hillsman about Nor
ris; how he had himself made copy
of the agreement at Mr.. Everett's
house when Franklin was announced,
and all that happened with reference
thereto. He also gave detailed nc
count of the demands made upon him
for the paper which Hillsman had
given him to read.
''Was anyone present when the de-
mand was made?" asked Mr.. Ever
EFT.
"Yes, sir; the eastern capitalist,
Frederick Merivale, was present; but
whether he gave any attention to
the conversation I could not say"
Lawyer Everett smiled inscrutahly
at this, but made mn comment.
ITO Be Gorsinued,I ~