Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-30


case of fact would not be worth a
farthing. No mtoive had been alleged
Tor the killing of Moreau by the pris.
Oper, but Prendergast had had motive
enough in his accusation. 1t had been
open knowledge that lie hated Hugh
Stires, and his own character made 1T
evident that he would not have scru-
pied to fasten a murder upon him.
But as Fielder studied the twelve
grave faces in the jury box. who in
the last analysis were all that counted.
he shared his clients hopelessness.
Judgment and experience told him how
futile were all theories in the face of
that inarticulate but damning witness
that Prendergast had left behind him..
So the afternoon dragged through, q
day for the state.
Sunset came early at that season.
Dark fell, and the electric bulbs made
| their mimic day, but no one left the
room. The outcome seemed FORE
gone conclusion. The jurymen no
longer gaZed at the prisoner, and when
| they looked at one another 1t was with
grim understanding. AS the last wit
| ness for the state stepped down and
the prosecutor rested the judge glanced
| at the clock.
There is bare half hour" he said
/, tentatively. Perhaps the defense
would prefer not to open testimony till
| tomorrow"
Fielder had risen. He saw his oppor-
| tunity--to bring out sharply contrast
| ing point in the prisoners favor, the
enc circumstance. considered apart.
pointing toward innocence rather than
guilt; IL leave this for the jury to take
weight Of the evidence that had been
given.
| II will proceed, if your honor
pleases," he said and arid u rustic OF
surprise and interest calleG Jessica to
| the stand.
| AS she went forward to the WIZ ass
chair she put back the shielding veil.
and her face. pale as bramble bloom
under her red bronzed hair, made an
| appealing picture. A cluster of white
carnations was pinned to her coat, and
as she passed Harry she bent and laid
one in his hand. The slight act, not
lost upon the spectators, called forth 4
sibilant flutter of sympathy, for 1t
wore no touch of designed effect. Its
impulse was as pure and unmistakable
as its meaning.
| Harry had started uncOntrollably as
she rose, for he had had no inkling of
the lawyers intention, and flush
darkened his cheek at the cool touch of
the flower. But this faded to a settled
pallor as under Folders grave Ques-
| tioning she told in voice as clear as
| a child's, yet with a 'woman'S emotion
| struggling through 1t. the story of her
disregarded warning. While she spoke
/ pain and shame Travelled through his
every vein, for, though technically she
| had not brought herself into the per-
picking purview of the law, she was
laying bare the secret of her own heart,
which now he would have covered at
any cost
THAT is all. your honor" said Fielder
when Jessica had finished her story.
do you wish TO cross examiner
asked the judge perfunctorily.
The prosecutor looked at her an in
slant. He saw the faintness in her
eyes. the twitchfng of the gloved hand
ON the rail. by no means" he said
courteously and turned to his papers.
At the same moment as Jessica STEP
ped into the open aisle the ironic
chance treated the. spe!lbound audi
ence to Il novel sensation. Every
electric light suddenly went out. and
darkness swooped upon the town and
the courtroom. Hubbub arose-people
stood up in their places.
The judges gavel pounded viciously
and his stentorian voice beloved fol-
order
keep your seats. everybody! he
commanded. MIR Clerk. get some can
dies. This court is not yet adjourned
As the pail of darkness fell upon the