Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1907-10-12
CHAPTER VIII
THE FOG THICKENS.


The coroner's court was crowded, as
il always is at any hearing presenting
features OF morbid or sensational in
terost and Goldberg, with an Unborn
love Of the theatric, arranged his Wit
nesses so as to lead gradually 10 the
climax, the announcement He put the
is nitor on the stand first and then
had Simmonds tell his story Some
medical testimony followed as to the
exact nature OF Thompsons injuries,
and the bullet, which had been eX-
racted, had been put in evidence-it
was plainly much too large TO have
come from Miss Croydcns pistol. Fin
allv Miss Croydon herself was called.
A little gasp of delicious excitement
ran through the crowd as she appeared
al the door OF the witness room. Here
was a titbit 10 touch the palates Of
even the jaded ponce reporters.
Godfrey, looking AT her as she came
steadily forward to the stand felt his
heart warm with admiration. She
seemed perfectly composed and II not
perfectly at ease. at least as nearly
so as any woman OF her position could
be in such a place. Godfrey was
pleased TO see Drysdale in close at
tendance and he nodded to him en-
Couragingly
Miss Croydon told her story clearly
ana with an accent of sincerity there
was no doubling. Ii differed in one
detail from the story she had told
the night before. Thompson, she
said, had perceived the intruder
and there had been a short, fierce
struggle before he fell under the blow
Of the pipe He was not unconscious,
but was struggling TO his feet again,
when his assailant shot him.
Jury, coroner, reporters listened with
close attention. Godfrey watched her
.sg l. al l..
assurance her perfect poise. Then he
glanced at the jury and smiled again
AS he noted their seriously respectful
faces When she had finished, Gold
berg began a brief examination
THAT is not precisely the story you
told last night Miss Croydon he sug-
gested
@No." she said; mol was too star
tied. then, too over wrought to think
quite clearly This morning | endeav-
ored to recall exactly what occurred"
And you believe that you have sue
ceeded?"
Yes sir; I am sure OF it,"
You would say, then, | suppose that
the deceased had been killed in self
defense"
Il am not familiar with the uiceties
OF the law, sir she answered steadily
But there was a strugEle?"
Yes sir"
And the deceased was endcavoring
to iufict some injury upon his adj
vcrsary?'
he was doing his best to do so, l
should say, sir"
The coroner paused for a moment
and glanced at the jury, but none OF
them seemed disposed to ask amy qucs-
tiuus. Then Goldberg made a sign to
Simmonds He left the room, but re-
appeared in moment, leading in Jim-
my the Dude.
Not until they were quite near did
Miss croydon perceive them; then, as
her eyes met the prisoners she half
started from her chair. her face like
marble AS for Jimmy Godfrey WAS
astonished TO perceive the fascinated
gaze he bent upon Miss Croydon What
was the connection between them
Where could they possibly have
met' Was Jimmy guilty, after all?
Certainly Simmonds had no longer any
doubt of IT, to judge by his beatihc ex-
preston Of countenanCe
IL was over IN an instant--Miss Croy-
don gripped ba'K her seif-control and
the prisoner managed to remove his
eyes from her; but Goldberg had per-
ceived their agsation, and the gaze he
bent upon the witness grew perceptiEiy
more sterp
Miss Croydon" ne began, you have
described the guilty man as short Ald
heavy-set with a dark mustache turn
ing up at the ends Look at the pris-
oner before you--is he the mani"
He is not" replied the witness in a
firm voice and without an instant's
hesitation.
Jimmy was again watching her with
expressive eyes.
You are sure?"
Perfectly sure; there is little or no
resemblance"
You do not know the prisoner"
No, sir, | have never before seen
him"
He was talking with the janitor last
night when you entered the Marathon"
Il had on a heavy veil al the time
and could not see distinctly"
The answers came promptly calmly
Goldberg hesitated and glanced az Sim