The Topeka state journal., 1908-07-15
TIE EVENING STORY
Settled Out of Court.
lBy J. Ludlum LIee.l

the - municipal court. The witness In
the chair had just been sworn in, CIV
ing her full name as Ida Graves. Rus
sell Roe, counsel for the plaintiff and
an old friend of the Graves family, had
asked her to tell just what she had
seen regarding the accident when Mr..
Brown had been run down by a large
red touring car some t~ 'uonths be-
fore. He asked few direc> questions
and then turned her over to the lawyer
for the other side.
Hugo Holland, counsel for the owner
of the automobile. hesitated about put
ting this lovely girl on the rack OF
cross-examination. and when her great
big eyes looked helplessly into his. ne
almost felt that the case was lost.
What did you say your name wa!
asked Holland, foundertnG about for .
leading question.
'Lida Graves" replied the witness.
What do you do for hvelihood!"
followed up Holland.
Ida turned to the kindly faced Judge
as If for explanation. and over MS iace
| came q sinister smile.
He means are you working Wom-
an" explained the Judge. Then. turn
( ing to Holland, he scowled ana contin-
ued: II wish the counsel would stop TINS
| tomfoolery and ask questions pertain
| ing to the case. Miss Graves Is iaoy
| of leisure-a blind man could see tnat-
| Come, come" and he raped the desk
| with his gavel.
You take an oath. do you. that the
| chauffeur did not sound the norm
| said Holland.
| YES" answered the witness.
| You swear to that, do your reitef-
| ated the lawyer.
| How many times do you want the
| witness to repeat that statement! IN
terposed Roe for the other side.
This started a warfare OF op1ec-
| tions and exceptions. The two law
yers and the Judge became involved IN
legal technicalities. Holland asking
one question and Roe objecting. the
Judge seemingly sustaining all obJec-
tions The lawyers INDUCED in per-
sonalities and the judge pounded for
order. Quiet again reIgned In the
"From the evidence before me. 1
render a verdict in favor OF Mr..
Brown, the plaintiff, for $1,000. The
court will take recess until
o'clock" announced the judge.
Half an hour later Ida Graves and
her maid entered a fashionable res
| taurant, secured a table in a cool cor
ner of the room and ordered ngnt
luncheon She had come into town at
the earnest plea of old Mr.. Brown
whom she had seen injured by the
touring car, and had testified in his
behalf.
Slipping her iced tea, she glanced
about the room, and to her surprise, at
a nearby table saw the two lawyers,
who, half an hour ago had neen SO
personal in their remarks to each 9TH
er The 'pinheaded idiot" and the
"lantern-jawed attorney had evil
IDENTIFY decided to bury their diner
ences in a friendly meal. Mr.. Roe
caught her eye, and in Few mo-
ments came up to her table.
May bring my friend Mr.. Holland
over to meet you under more favor
able circumstances" he asked.
You may not" answered Ida with
some spirit. THAT man Is brute
why, Mr.. Roe, he accused me of-well
OF actually telling an untruth on the
stand"
"Oh. we'll, that's all in the business.
you know, Miss Ida soothed Roe.
HE was paid to do that"
what do you mean-a man re-
ceives money to accuse a woman
of -"
Roe saw that his arguments were
futile and returned to his friend.
Ida finished her luncheon and took
the train for Linden Beach, where the
Graves family was spending the sum-
mer at a fashionable MOTEL
| Sauntering around the broad piaz-
zas the following Sunday morning she
met face to face the two lawyers, and
it was inevitable that she must meet
the brutal Mr.. Holland. Despite her
aversion to the man VINO had cross
examined her, she had to yield to the
charm of his genial manners.
"I say, Miss Graves" he began.
we're going to appeal that case. you
know"
Ida smiled.
What case?" she asked.
"Why, my case; that is. your case
stammered Holland.
They looked around for Mr.. Roe
but he had disappeared to let them
| hght 1t out alone, and when, several
| hours later. he passed them comfort
ably settled in a rustic seat under the
trees, Roe decided that Holland must
be more persuasive out of court than
in 1t.
) Weeks had slipped by, and one
bright Sunday morning found Russell
. Roe in his white fiannels and Ida in
, her daintiest Of summer frocks. argu-
ing in the sun parlor.
''But. Miss Ida. it's rank injus-
tice," he was saying. ''It's the mean
: est kind of a trick to go over to the
5 other side. never would have classed
: you with the traitors"
But I'm not a traitor" answered
Ida blushing. II think lawyers or
; the whole, and one or two individual
, ly, are a mean lot. Why, their whole
: stock in trade seems to be calling peo-
pie horried names. Mr.. Holland ac-
: cused me of prevaricating and nov
I you turn about and call me a traitor
well, Will you GO rowing with ms
, this afternoon or won't your" asked
1 Rose with a somewhat legal tone"
I'll "It is not a question of whether
will or not. my dear Mr.. Roe said
: Ida. ct simply cannot; / have an.
other engagement"
Exactly" sung out Roe with
triumphant air. with the lawyer fol
the other side; with that mean, de.
spicable little Holland. A man who
D stoops to accuse women OF untruth
a man who stoops to steal witnesses; 6
a thief, a.
"I refuse to listen to you, Mr.. Roe.
. fared Ida, and she turned and lef
: Roe in his wicker chair TO finish hi.