Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-09-04
Settled Ont
Of Court.
By J. LUDLUM LEE.
Copyrighted, 1908. by Associated
Literary Press

Judge Sanford was hearing case In
the - municipal court The witness
IN the chair had Just been sworn in,
giving her full name as Ida Graves.
Russell Roe, counsel for the plaintiff
and an old friend of the Graves fam
lily, had asked her to tell just what she
had seen regarding the accident when
Mr. Brown had been run down by
large red touring car some two months
before. He asked a few direct ques-
lions and then turned her over to the
lawyer for the other eide.
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
his eyes looked helplessly into his he
almost felt the case was lost.
What did you say your name was"
asked Holland, fioundering about for a
leading question.
"Lida Graves" replied the witness.
what do you do for LIVELIHOOD"
followed up Holland.
Ida turned to the kindly faced
judge as If for explanation, and over
his face came a sinister smile.
"He means are you a working
woman" explained the judge. Then,
turning to Holland, he scowled and
continued: II wish the counsel would
stop this tomfoolery and ask questions
pertaining to the case. Miss Graves
Is a lady of leisure-a blind man could
see that. Come, come" and he raped
| the desk with his gavel
"You take an oath, do you, that the
chauffeur did not sound the horn 2"
said Holland.
Eyes," answered the witness.
you swear to that, do your reiter-
ated the lawyer.
How many times do you want the
witness to repeat that statement?" in
terposed Roe for the other side.
This started warfare of objections
and exceptions. The two lawyers and
the judge became involved in legal
technicalities. Holland asking one
question and Rec Directing, the Judge
The lawyers INDUCED in personalities
| and the Judge pounded for order
Quiet again reigned in the courtroom.
From the evidence before me, ]
| render verdict in favor of Mr.. Brown,
the plaintiff, for $1,000. The court will
take recess until O'clock" announc-
ed the Judge
Half an hour later Ida Graves and
her maid entered a fashionable reStau
rant, secured a table in a cool corner
Of the room and ordered light lunch
con. 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 been SO per-
sonal in their remarks to each other.
The "pinheaded idiot" and the lantern
jawed attorney" had evidently decided
to bury their differences in a friendly
meal Mr. Roe caught her eye and In
a few moments came up to her table.
| MAY I bring my friend Mr.. Holland
over to meet you under more favorable
circumstances? he asked.
| You may not" answered Ida with
some spirit. "That man is a brute.
Why, Mr.. Roe, he accused me of-weli,
Of actually telling an untruth on the
stand"
"Oh, well, that's all In the business.
you know, Miss Ida" soothed Roe.
''He was paid to do that"
what do you mean-a man receives
| money to accuse a woman Of
Roe saw that his arguments were fu.
tile and returned to bis friend. Ida
| finished her luncheon and took the train
for Linden Beach, where the Graves
family was spending the summer at
fashionable hotel.
Saunterfng around the broad ptazZas
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 aver
sion to the man who had cross exam
ined her, she had to yield to the charm
Of his genial manners.
T 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
| fight it out alone, and when, several
| hours later, he passed them comforta-
bly, settled in 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 fannels and Ida in
| her daintiest of summer frocks argu-
ing in the sun parlor.
But, Miss Ida, It's rank injustice,
he was saying IFS the meanest kind
Of trick to go over to the other side.
l never would have classed you with
the traitors
"But I'm not traitor" answered
Ida, blushing 81 think lawyers Oh
the whole, and one or two individually
are mean lot. Why, their whole
stock in trade seems TO be calling PEG
pie horrid names. Mr.. Holland ac
cused me of prevaricating, and now
you turn about and call me traitor"
well, Will you go rowing with me
this afternoon or won't your" asked
Roe, with a somewhat legal tone.
are to NOT a ouasfioy NJ whaffor I