Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-05-13


a great moment for the actress, who
was ceasing to feel ashamed of her
part, what with custom and the dire
necessity of it.
For now more than ever did Claire
trust to the genius of the great magi- ,
clan retained for the defense. That
vague power was the one hope left for
her to cling to, and cling she did with !
all the might Of aching heart and tor
tired mind. Claire's notions of trial :
We're exceedingly simple, although her |
father had stood his within the year. |
On the other hand, her belief in the |
efficacy of counsel was unbounded, be- |
cause Mr.. Harding had been defended |
by q former officer of the crown. and |
the charge had fallen to the ground |
and everybody vowed it was the fine |
defense, combined with innocence-at |
least everybody whose opinion Claire |
was in the way of hearing. Mr.. Ser
Geant Culliford had not been solicitor
general, but Claire was told that in
criminal case his rival did not exist. |
One night she heard that CullifOrd had
accepted the brief, the next that he
had probably earned his fee already,
though Bassett would admit nothing of
the kind, but complained instead of his
own treatment at the barrister's hands.
! The fact was that Tom ought to
have made a statement before the
! ma gistrate. Then the defense would
have had something to work upon at
the trial. AS it was they had nothing
until the learned sergeant devised
ot tl,IAI
eleventh hour. He went to Ncwgate,
made Tom give him his version of the
interview with Blaydes and of his
subsequent proceedings; disbelieved
every word. but kept nOdding so ell
couragingly with his ugly. inscrutablc.
attentive face that Tom received the
very opposite impression and told his
tale with some spirit and CLEAN of
hope The great man heard him out
then glared at RaSSett (who had given
him a certain look and addressed the
prisoner in kindly undertOne.
THAT'S all very we'll" said he. "The
only pity is that we didn't have 1t at
Marylebone, for. you see. your tongue
will he tied ut the Old Bailey. No. no;
you couldn't know. You may thank
your solicitor. 1t was his duty to adj
vise''-
Excuse me. sir interrupted that
gentleman, "hut | really must protest.
l never supposed we should he unable
to call single witness for the defense,
and did not think the story
Think" snapped Culliford. "Who
wants you to think? There's a class
of men, sir. that is most dangerous
when it thinks. You appear to belong
to It. Re good enough not to interrupt
me again. We must have that state
ment by hook or crook to work upon,
and there is only one way now of get
ting It as evidence. Tell a turnkey or
J wardsman what you have told me-
Erickson. and the other side are pretty
safe to put him in the box. Then l
, shall cross examine him and have
: something to talk TO the jury about.
Do think we have q leg to stand up
on? Two, sir. two. and better ones
than they suppose, only tell the turn
: keys exactly what you have told me,
and good day to you. Come, Mr.. Bas-
sett. I've something more to say to
you"
, And so Tom had his eyes opened to
the little ways of great lawyers, but
his impression of his champion was
by no means an unfavorable one, for
the glib, spruce Bassett he disliked.
: but this rough tongue and rugged face
filled him with confidence and so re-
, doubled his gratitude toward his I'M
known ally. who heard that he had
| spoken of him with tears in his eyes
J and who did not fail to let Claire hear
} 1t too.
) Upon her meanwhile the strain was
: beginning to tell. More than once she
| was within an ace of breaking down
: at telltale moment. And just when
t her nerves were at their highest pitch
: and the situation hardly to be borne
, there came the new development which
well nigh turned her brain.
, 1t began with a comparatively small
matter, the unprovoked inSolence of
-, Claire's maid but this was the growth
3 of days, not sudden thing. though it
! was only when her tangled nerves
= could endure it no longer that Claire
t whipped out her purse. put months
2 wages on the dressing table and babe
j, the woman begone.
1 Hannah, the ifiaid. put her thin,
] strong arms akimbo and burst out
e laughing in her mistress face.
This instant, eh? And you think
D you'll get rid of me for two -pound- five ?
That you won't then, nor yet for 20
j guineas. So now you know"
1--WE shall see." said Claire, moving
0 over to the bell.
/ II wouldn't ring, miss, If were you"
t "Then will you go? You have been
i fnsolent beyond words; force me to do
b 1t, and l shall send for policeman to
] turn you out"
Il wouldn't do that. miss, either, OF
e 1 may tell the policeman something
e you won't like
J "What do you meanp
t "What say, but don't mind saying
n n1aippr IN nhliUa I shall foil IN,