Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-09-04

I will or not, my dear Mr.. Roe" said
Ida. 81 simply cannot; have an
Dther engagement"
"Exactly!' sung out Roe, with tri.
umphant air. with the lawyer for
the other side; with that mean, de-
spicable little Holland; man who
stoops to accuse women of untruth; a
man who stoops to steal witnesses; q
thief, a.
II refuse to listen to you, Mr.. Roe,
Jared Ida, and she turned and left
Roe in his wicker chair to finish his
cigar in solitude
Roes face did not take on a very
disconsolate look. Indeed, a casual
observer would have said it was over.
spread with look Of absolute content.
ment And later in the afternoon
when he saw Ida Graves and his best
friend, Hugo Holland, making their
way toward the wharf the expression
Of Roe's face was still that of great
satisfaction.
Hugo pulled fine stroke, and they
swung into the little cove in short
time. The twilight shadows fell about
them and conversation had Jagged
Letting the boat drift slowly where
the tide chose to take it. Hugo leaned
forward and gazed into his compan-
IONS face.
Lets play court" suggested Hol.
land
"All right" agreed Ida. "I'n be
the Judge"
you've had no experience in that line
You will be the witness in the chair"
well, all right. But what are you
going to be?" asked Ida, somewhat
bewildered.
oh" said Holland, with great au,
thority, "I'll be all the rest I'm the
judge. the jury and the lawyer fol
both sides. Now. you're on the stand
and under oath. remember"
Promise you won't ask me how Ole
| am nor what ! do for living.
laughed Lids:
81 am row taking 10 the judge" be
began, and, turning to an imaginary
figure, he continued: 'You see the ac-
cused. Hugo Lawrence Holland, Is des
perately in love with the plaintiff. Ida
Graves
ooh, Mr.. Holland" interrupted Ida
81 really do not think''-
"Order in the court" roared Hol-
land. Then, looking directly at Ida
he said, Twill you listen to this suit
Of Holland for your heart and handT
Ida laughed. The situation was ir.
resistible.
will or not"
"The one bad feature of the case Is
the existence of two legged beast
continued Holland-'One Russell Roe"
Looking directly at the witness, he
| said, "Do you love this monstrosity?
Certainly not" asserted Ida.
The entire court seemed greatly re-
| Neved.
"On your oath?" added Holland.
| ION my OATH" repeated Ida.
| "And-and''- The counsel seemed
to hesitate. He had lost his grip in
1 oNAAAO AiaAhGA' AAoiAyy al tSA III ASL
hating, he asked:
| "And this man, this one Hugo Hol
land, do you care for him-just the
least little bit?"
Ida looked at him for moment
| and then, with merry twinkle in hel
big eyes, she said, "Please let me be
the judge-just for minute?"
| call right said Holland as be
| gripped an oar for support
| "Ahem," began Ida with judiciary
| manner. Il think this case should be
settled out of court. 1t seems to me
that the plaintiff and the defendant
can make satisfactory arrangements
without the aid Of outside parties"
Hugo now gripped both oars and
| rowed as If he had entered varsity
race with his life at stake. They were
on shore in the twinkling Of an eye
and the testimony given there was
even more direct, for Ida was II
Hugo's arms and her face was very
| close to his