Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-04-23

rs Charlie Nightbird present"
asked Small, casting rather anxious
eyes over the packed, intent faces.
Charlie Nghtbrd was not present. At
least he made no sign of coming for
ward. Tho face of the young counsel
for the state was immobile during the
brief time they waited for Charlie
NiEhtbirG dark, frozen face
at that moment turned toward the
cold. sparkling sky. and who would
never come, not If they waited for
him till ~, last dread trump of the
last dread day
There was some mistake. Counsel
had been misinformed Nightbird
was an important witness. He had
been reported present. Never mind.
He was probably unavoidably detained
by the storm. They would call Jesse
Big Cloud and others to corroborate
the defendants statements - which
in all It's parts. major and minor. Then
the defense rested.
Richard Gordon arose from his
chair. His face was white. His lean
jaws were set. His eyes were steel.
He was anything but a lover now, this
man Gordon. Yet the slim little court
reporter with dark circles Of home
sickness under her eyes had never
loved him half so well as at this mo-
ment. His voice was clear and de-
liberate.
"Your honor l ask permission of
the court to call witness in direct
testimony. ! assure your honor that
the state had used all efforts in it's
power to obtain the presence of this
witness before resting its case, but
had failed and believed at the time
that he could not be produced. The
witness Is now here and | consider
his testimony of the utmost impor.
lance in this case
Counsel for the defendant objected
strenuously, but the court granted the
petition. He wanted to hear every
thing that might throw some light on
the dark places In the evidence.
II call Mr.. George Williston," said
Gordon.
Had the strain crazed him? Louise
covered her eyes with her hands.
Men sat is If dazed. And thus, the
cynosure of all eyes-stupefied eyes
Williston of the ravaged Lazy S, thin
and worn but calm. natural and schol-
arly-looking as of old-walked from
the little ante-room at the side into
the light and knowledge of men once
more and raised his hand for the oath.
Not until this was taken and he had
sat quietly down in the witness chair
did the tension snap. Even then men
found it difficult to focus their atten-
ton on the enormous difference this
new witness must make in the case
that a few moments before seemed
settled.
Mary sat with shining eyes in the
front row of wooden chairs. 1t was
no wonder she had laughed and been
30 gay all the dreary yesterday and
all the worse to-day. Louise shot her
look Of pure gladness.
Small's face was ludicrous in Its
drop-jawed establishment. The little
lawyers face was study. A look OF
defiance had crept into the defend
ants countenance.
The preliminary questions were
asked and answered.
"Mr. Williston you may state where
you were and what you saw on the
14th day Of July last"
Williston, the unfortunate gentle
man and scholar the vanquished COW
man, for n brief while the most i'm
portan. man in the county, perhaps
was about to uncover 10 mems under
standing the dark secret hitherto oh
scured by q cloud Of supposition anC
hearsay. lie told the story of hi!
visit to the island, and he told 1t well