The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1909-02-18

table where Harry sat, his face as col
orless as the flower he wore.
'That mans name,'' he blazed, els
not Hugh Stires. 1t is cloak he has
chosen to cover his shame He is the
Rev. Henry Sanderson of Aniston.''
i Harry's pulses had leaped with ex-
element when the street preachers
first exclamation startled the court
room; now they were beating as though
they must burst Through the stir
about him he heard the crisp voice of
the district attorney:
II ask your honor's permission before
this extraordinary witness is examined
further" he said caustically, 'to read
an item printed here which has bear
Ing upon the testimony" He held in
his hand newspaper which earlier in
the afternoon, with cynical disregard
Of Felder's tactics, he had been casual
~ perusing.
"Read it, SIR
Holding the newspaper to candle.
the lawyer read in an even voice, pref
acing his reading with the Journals
name and date:
This city, which was aroused In the
night by the burning of st. James chanel
| will be greatly shocked to learn that it's
rector, the Rev. Henry Sanderson, who
has been for some months on prolonged
vacation, was in the building at the time
and now lies at the city hospital, suffer-
Ing from injuries from which it is ru-
nored there is grave doubt of his re-
covery.
In the litter that rippled the court
room Harry felt his heart bound and
swell. Under the succinct statement
he clearly discerned the fact. He saw
the pitfall into which Hugh had fallen
the trap into which he himself had
sent him on that fatal errand with the
ruby ring on his finger. "Grave doubt
of his recoveryr' A surge of relief
swept over him to his finger tips. He
would be free to go back-to be him
self again, to be Jessica's-if Hugh
died. The reading voice drummed in
his ears:
The facts have not as yet been ascer-
tanned, but it seems clear that the popu-
lar young minister returned to town I'M
expectedly last night and was asleep in
|
presence in the building was unguessed
until too late, and it was by little short
Of miracle that he was brought out
| alive.
AS we go to press we learn that Mr..
Sanderson's condition is much more hope
full than was at first reported.
Harry's heart contracted as if a
giant hand had clutched it. His Ella
ton fell like rotten tree girdled at
the roots. If Hugh did not die! He
chilled as though in spray of liquid
air. Hugh's escape-the chance his
conscience had given him-was cut off.
The judge reached for the newspaper
the lawyer held, ran his eye over it
and brought his gavel down with an
angry snort.
Take him away" he said. His tes-
timony is ordered stricken from the
records. The fine is RENTED, Mr..
Fielder. We can't make you RESPONSE
BILE for lunatics. The court stands adj.
journed"
Fielder had been among the last to
leave the courtroom. He was dis
comfited and angry. At the door Of
the courthouse Dr. Brent slipped an
arm through his.
'Too bad, Tom," he said sympathiz-
ingly. II don't think you quite de-
served it,
| Fielder paced moment without
speaking. II need evidence" he said
then; anything that may help.
made a mistake. You heard all the
testimony?''
The other nodded.
what did you think of it?''
"What could any one think? give
all credit to your motive, Tom, but it's
a pity you're mixed up in it,
"Why?'
Because, if there's anything in hui
man evidence, he's a thoroughly worth
less reprobate. He lay for Moreau
and murdered him in cold blood, and
he ought to swing"
'The casual view," said the lawyer
gloomily. ''Just what should have
said myself-if this had happened a
month ago.
His friend looked at him with an
amused expression. II begin to think
he must be a remarkable many' he
said SIS it possible he has really con-
WINGED you that he isn't guilty?"
Fielder turned upon the doctor
squarely. YES" he returned bluntly.
"He has. Whatever I may have be-
lieved when took this case, have
come to the conclusion-against all my
professional instincts. mind you-that
he never killed Moreau. believe he's
as innocent as either you or I!'
"He has rs good as admitted to Miss
Holme thaGhe knows who did it."
Come, come Putting his neck into
the moose fSr mere Quixotic feeling?
And who. pray. in this God forsaken
town, should he be sacrificing himself
for?" the doctor asked satirically.
That's the rub" said the lawyer.
'Nobody. Yet hang by my PROPOSE
| tion''
''Well, he'll hang by something less
tenuous, I'm afraid. But it won't be
yO11r fau1t The