Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-01-21

| you think. He is not
The judges gavel thumped upon the
wood. How dare you," he vociferated.
"break in upon the deliberations of this
court? l fine you 500 for contempt"
Fielder had leaped to his feet. What
could this man know? He took a
J bill from his pocket and clapped it
down on the clerks desk.
II beg to purge him of contempt" he
said, "an call him as Il Witness"
Hallelujah Jones snatched the Bible
from the clerks hands and kissed it.
knowledge was burning his tongue.
The jury We're leaning forward in their
seats.
Have you ever seen the prisoner be-
fore?" asked Fielder.
eyes"
"When?"
"When he was a minister Of the Cos
pei"
Fielder stared, The judge frowned.
The jury looked at one another. and a
laugh ran round the hushed room.
The merriment kindled the evangel-
lists distempered passion. Sudden an
ger famed in him. He leaned forward
and shook his hand vehemently at the
table where Harry sat. mis- face as col
orless as the flower lie wore.
"That mans name" he blaZed, sis
not Hugh Stires. 1t is Il cloak he has
chosen to cover his shame. He is the
Rev. Henry Sanderson Of Aniston."
Harry's pulses had leaped with ex-
element when the street preachers
first exclamation startled the court
room; now they We're beating as though
they must burst. Through the stir
about him he heard the crisp voice of
tle district attorney:
II ask your honor's permission before
this extraordinary witness is examined
further" he said caustically, ito read
an item printed here which has a bear
Ing upon the testimony" He held in
his hand a newspaper which earlier in
the afternoon, with cynical disregard
of Felder's tactics, he had been casual
ly perusing.
"Read it, sir"
Holding the newspaper to a candle.
the lawyer read in an ever 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 chapel,
will be greatly shocked to learn that its
rector, the Rev. Henry Sandcrson. Who
has been for some months on a 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-
mored 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 recovery" 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
his study when the fire started. His
presence in the building was unguessed
until too late. and it was by little short
Of q miracle that he was brought out
alive.
AS we go to press we learn that Mr..
Sanderson's condition is much more hope
ful than was at first reported.
Harry's heart contracted as if d
giant hand had clutched it. His ella
ton fell like IL rotten tree girdled at
the roots. If Hugh did not die! He
chilled as though in Il spray of liquid
air. Hugh's e~scape-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 ad-
journed."
Cclucl Aldu OCCA odASA6 SaC AooI "
leave the courtroom. He was dis
comnted 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 a moment without
speaking. II need evidence" he said
then; anything that may help. l
made a mistake. You heard all the
testimony"
The other nodded.
what did you think Of it,"
What could any one think? l 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
ploomily. "Just what I should have