The San Francisco call., 1907-01-06

matter or tine, intermina bly,, yet the
people of Canaan (not only those who
succeeded in penetrating TO the court
room. but the others who hung about
the corridors, or outside the building,
and the great mass of stay at-homes
who read the story in the Toscin)
found each moment of it enthralling
enough. The States attorney, fearful
of losing SO notorious a case. and not
Understanding his opponent. had
modestly summoned others to his aid;
and, the attorney for the defense,
single-handed. faced IAN array of legal
talent such as seldom indeed had hol-
Tered at this bar; faced IL good
naturedly an eyebrow crooked up and
his head on one side. most of the
time, yet faced it indomitably- He had
q certain careless and disarming smile
when he lost point. which carried off
the defeat as of only humorous account
and not at all part OF the serious
business in hand; and in his treatment
of witnesses he was plausible, kindly,
knowing that in this case he had no
intending perjurer to entrap; brought
into play the rare and delicate art of
which he was master. employing in
his questions subtle suggestions and
shadings of tone and manner. and
avoiding words OF debatable and dan
gerous meanings--a fine craft, often
attempted by blunderers to their own
undoing, but which, practiced by Jo
seph Louden. made insrticulate wit
nesses articulate to the precise effects
which he desired. This he accomplished
as much by the help OF the continuous
fire of objections from the other side
as in spite OF them. He was infinitely
careful. asking never an ill-advised
question for the other side to use to
his hurt. and. though exhibiting only a
pleasant easiness of manner, was elee-
trically alert.
A hundred things had shown Ariel
that the feeling of the place. Influenced
by public sentiment without, was
subtly and profoundly hostile to Joe
and his client; she read this in the
spectators, in the jury. even in the
Judge; but it seemed to her that day by
day the inimical spirit gradually failed.
inside the railing. and also in those
spectators who, like herself were en-
able by special favor to be present
throughout the trial. and that now and
then a kindlier sentiment began to be
manifested. She was unaware how
strongly she contributed to effect this
herself, not only through the glow of
visible sympathy which radiated from
her. but by particular action. Claud-
Inc was called by the State, and told as
much of her story as the law permitted
her to tell, interlarding her replies
with fervent protestations (too quick
to be prevented) that she never meant
to bring no trouble TO Mr.. Fear" and
that she did hate to have gentlemen
starting things on her account" When
the defense took this peFturbed wit
ness. her interpretations became less
frequent and she described straight.
forwardly how she had found the pistol
on the floor near the PROSTATE figure of
Cory, and hidden 1t in her own dress.
The attorneys for the State listened
with somewhat cynical amusement TO
this portion OF her testimony. believing
IL of no account, uncorroborated. and
that II necessary the State could i'm
peach the witness on the ground that
1T had been indispensable to produce
her. She came down weeping from the
stand; and, the next witness not be-
ing Immediately called, the eyes of the
jurymen naturally followed her .s she
passed to her seat, and they saw Ariel
Tabor bow gravely to her across the
railing. Now. a thousand things not
set forth by Legislatures, law men and
Judges affect a jury, and the slight
salutation caused the members OF this
one 10 glance at one another for Ii
seemed to imply that the exquisite lady
In white not only knew Claudine, but
knew that she had spoken the truth.
IL was after this that a feeling favor
able to the defense now and then no
room. Still. when the evidence for the
state was all in, the life of Happy Fear
seemed to rest in a balance precarious
indeed. and the little man. swallowing
pitifully. looked at his attorney with
the eyes of a sick dog.
Then Joe gave the prosecutors an
illuminating and stunning surprise.
and. having offered in evidence the re-
volver found upon Claudine, produced
as his first witness a pawnbroker OF
Denver, who identified the weapon as
one he had sold to Cory. whom he had
known very well. The second witness,
also stranger had been even more in
timately acquainted with the dead
man, and there began to be an uneasy
comprehension OF what Joe had ac-
complished during that prolonged alb
sence OF his which had so nearly cost
the life OF the little mongrel. who was
at present (most blissful Respect
abiiityD a lively convalescent in
ArieTs back yard. The second wit
ness also identified the revolver. testi-s
flying that he had borrowed it from
Cory in St Louis to settle a question
OF craftsmanship. and that on his re-