Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-04-19
CHAPTER XXI.


unless you happen to be lawyer en-
gagged in a profitable case, there-and
Yorke, as he entered the stuffy, grimy
murky chamber looked around with q
feeling OF surprise and grim interest.
Upon the bench sat the Judge in q
much-worn gown and a grubby wig.
A barrister was browsing away In the
well" Of the court, and his fellows
were sleeping or stretching and yawn-
ing around him.
The public as represented by half
a dozen seedy-looking individuals
who all looked as II they had not
been to bed for month and had for
gotten to wash themselves for a Ike
period. There was an usher, who
yawned behind his wand, one or two
policeman with wooden countenancos,
and two or three wretched-loolSing In.
dlviduals, who were, like Yorke, de.
PENDANTS In various suits.
The entrance Of this stalwart well
dressed, and decidedly distinguished
and arlstocratic parsonage created
slight sensation for moment or two;
then he seemed to be forgotten, and
he stood and looked on, ana won
dered how soon his case would be
heard and whether he would be car
rled away TO jail forthwith.
He waited for half an hour or SO,
feeling that he was growing dirty and
grlmy like the rest Of the people
around him, and gradually the sense
OF tho disgrace and humiliation Of ha
position stole over him.
Great heavens, to what q pass he
had comet He had lost Leslie. He
was now to lose his good name and
honor--eyeryth Would It not be
better for himself and everybody con.
nected with him II he went outside
and purchased dose Of ptussc acid?
The suspense, the stuffy court, the
dronlng voice Of the counsel, begun
to drive him mad.
He went up to the usher.
Can you tell me when my case
comes in2" he said.
"Your Case what name2" he
asked without any "sIr," and with a
kind of drowsy impertlnence, which
seemd to be in strict harmony with
the mir of the place.
"Auchegterl | am the-~the defend
ant"
'Horchester2 Don't know Ask the
clerk"
with n sick feeling of shame.
Yorke went up to the man pointed
out by the usher and put the same
question to him.
"Auchester? Duncombe versus Au.
chester; Levison versus Auchester;
Arack versus Auchester?" said the
clerk, In dry, busness,lke way,
Yes, ! dare say that's It,"
The clerk looked down list, then
raised his eyes with the faintost OF
smiles.
Scratched out" he said. curtly,
Scratched out?" echoed Yorke.
blankly.
"Yes, Shiny lord" said the clerk.
who. while looking at the list, had
come upon Yorkes title, "The cases
have been removed from the list,
Settled"
"Settled2 don't understand" said
Yorke, staring at him, I've only
just come down--l've paid nothing"
Some one else has, then my lord"
said the clerk "Wait moment till
this case is heard It will be over
directly, and I'll explain"
Yorke, feeling like man In a
dream. stepped into corner and
waited Presently the court ad-
journed for luncheon, ana the clerk
came toward him.
This way, my lord He led
Yorke into an Office. Now, my
lord Yes, all the cases have been
discharged from the list--been set.
tied this morning"
"This morning." echoed Yorke,
mechanically, attn with vast
ama2ement "But--but who-I don't
know who could have done this. i
have not, for the best of all reasons.
! came down here prepared to go to
prison, or wherever else you sent
me-"
The clerk raised his brows and
shook his head grayely.
yes, you would have been commit
ted, my lord, for certainty" he
said You sec, you let things slide
too long, But there Is no fear now.
The money, all OF II, has been paid
You are quite free, quite ! congratu
late your lordship,'
"But--but" Yorke, and
he put his hand to his hrow--"who
can have done it-paid It? Is II the
Duke of Rothhury?"
Could Dolph have heard OF II In
some extraordinary way, and sent
the money!
The clerk went into the inner of,
flee fol few minutes, then he came
back with a slip Of paper in his
hand.