Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-04-23
CHAPTER XXI.

4OThS, DIS uG GuL6ISu Tic SIuAy SAIuIyJ
murky chamber looked around with a
feeling of surprise and grim interest.
Upon the bench sat the judge in
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 ali looked as if they had not
been to bed for month and had for
gotten to wash themselves for a like
period. There was an usher, who
yawned behind his wand, one or two
policeman with wooden countenances,
and two or three wretched-looking in
dividuals, who were, like YOrke, de-
PENDANTS in various suits.
The entrance of this stalwart, we'll
dressed, and decidedly distinguished
and aristocratic parsonage created a
slight sensation for a moment or two;
then he seemed to be forgotten, and
ne stood and looked on, and won
dered how soon his case would be
heard and whether he would be car
ried away to Jail forthwith.
He waited for half an hour or so,
feeling that he was growing dirty and
grimy like the rest of the people
around him, and gradually the sense
of the disgrace and humiliation of his
position stole over him.
Great heavens, to what a pass he
had come! He had lost Leslie. He
was now to lose his good name and
honor-everything! Would it not be
better for himself and everybody con-
nected with him if he went outside
and purchased a dose of prussic acid?
The suspense, the stuffy court, the
droning voice of the counsel, begun
to drive him mad.
He went up to the usher.
Can you tell me when my case
comes in?" he said.
Your case?-what name?" he
asked, without any Sir" and with
kind of drowsy impertinence, which
seemd to be in strict harmony with
the air of the place.
"Auchester! I am the-the defend
ant"
dorchester? Don't know. Ask the
clerk
With a 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 a dry, business-like way.
Yes, dare say that's it.
The clerk looked down a, list, then
raised his eyes with the faintest of
smiles.
Scratched out" he said CURLY.
Scratched out?" echoed Yorke,
blankly.
Eyes, 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"
Settled? I don't understand" said
Yorke, staring at him. Give only
just come down-Tve paid nothing"
Some one else has, then, my lord"
said the clerk "Wait a moment till
this case is heard; 1t will be over
directly, and I'll explain"
YOrke, feeling like a man in
dream, stepped into a corner and
waited. Presently the court ad-
journed for luncheon, and 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, still with vast
amazement. 'But-but Who'll don't
know who could have done this. l
have not, for the best of all reasons.
I came down here prepared to go to
prison, or wherever else you sent
me-"
The clerk raised his brows and
shook his head gravely.
yes, you would have been commit
ted, my lord, for a certainty" he
said. You see, you let things slide
too long. But there Is no fear now.
The money, all of it, has been paid.
You are quite free, quite / congratu-
late your lordship.'
"But-but' '-stammered Yorke, and
he put his hand to his brow-"who
can have done it-paid it? Is it the
Duke of Rothbury?"
Could Dolph have heard of it in
some extraordinary way, and sent
the money?
The clerk went into the inner Of
fee fol- a few minutes, then he came
back with a slip of paper in his
hand
Il don't know whether am doing
right, my lord,' he said, gravely. and
even cautiously. Perhaps ought
not to give you this information, but
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