Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-01
IL A Life in the Balance 4

Anne Henderson could scarcely believe her
ears. She had come TO King as a forlorn hope,
prepared to fight for hours, il need be, TO win
him, but scarcely expecting TO do 20. And yet,
in a few minutes, he had acceded to her request.
In her great joy the woman did not suspect her
one time lover Of treachery. She only knew
that she had secured the services Of the man who
had saved many lives in the last extremity, and
with sob of gratitude she threw herself at his
feet and endeavored TO kiss his hand.
"Don'tl" exclaimed King harshly, stepping
away. This is no sentimental matter with me-
you understand / am taking this case because IL
interests me that is ALL"
But" faltered the woman, won't you let me
tell you how much I"
Don't thank me now" broke in the lawyer
curtly. II am by no means sure you will ever
have occasion to thank me- There is small
chance of an acquittal here. II you will my
clerk he will make the arrangements for the re-
tainer." Going to the door King opened it and
bowed his visitor out.
The great trial was rapidly coming to a close
The evidence was all in and nothing remained
but the lawyers addresses to the Jury.
It seemed impossible that the defendant should
escape conviction. The District Attorney, him
self lawyer of uncommon ability, had felt that
at last he had chance to triumph over Henry
King, and he had drawn around the prisoner
what appeared to be an unbreakable chain of
circumstantal evidence, strengthened by some d
rect points that the defense had not been able
to meet.
King had conducted his side of the case with
diabolical skill. While to all appearances he
was making desperate fight for his clients life,
he had in reality contrived to bring into relief
the full strength of the prosecution. Even in
selecting the jurors he had allowed men to pass
whom he knew would be prejudiced against Hen
-
sympathes would be enlisted on the side of the
dead girl
Himself prejudiced against his client, the law
yer fully believed in the Others guilt and salved
his conscience with the thought that he was
furthering the ends of justice.
The District Attorney made powerful speech
to the Jury. He ratified every link of the chain
Of evidence to show how firmly it was welded
and with great emotional effect he pictured the
unfortunate girl as victim of her employers
lust and cruelty. When he had closed and
court took recess for lunch everyone agreed
that the prisoners doom sealed. Even Hen
ry King, they said, could not save him now
The defendants counsel had not paid much
attention to his adversarys remarks, but one
sentence had fastened itself in his mind. 1t was
an apparently trivial sentence, but for some rea-
son he could not get it out of his head.
When court reconvened the prisoner, as he was
led to the dock, summoned King to him with
motion of the head. His face haggard and
the lawyer felt tinge of something almost like
pity as he joined the man.
"King," began Henderson, "I know it's all up
with me- Before you say your last words I want
to thank you for the splendid fight you have
made. AS there is God above us / am innocent
of this crime and | am not afraid to die, but
when l think of the disgrace to Anne" the man
strangled sob and gripped the railing of the
dock.
'It is terrible" he resumed, reganing control
of his voice, "to be caught in net like this and
it is still more terrible to think of leaving my
wife behind to bear the sneers of cruel world
Would it be too much to ask you to stand be
tween her and the multitude? Anne has told me