Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-07-15

me girl Sn0Ok the dingy pompauOur
in IAN Affirmative nod and turned non
cha.antly to a neglected brief.
Hampton and Brown retired to a
private Office and remained there for
some time. The girl in the outer
room punched an occasional key and
which. however, was carefully smoth-
cred as the legal lights again entered
the larger room.
AS the older lawyer turned to ad-
dress her the girls foot ratified
against a half-open leather travelling
bag. Hampton flushed. He was un-
used to Interruptions. Assiduous at
tention was his portion-usually.
Il had started to say, Miss Preston"
he reiterated, primly, that my col
league and myself have decided to ac-
cept your proposition"
What was my proposition" re-
sponded Miss Preston, pertly.
The suave lawyer stared in sur
prised manner. why" he explained,
you are to bring about a jury disa-
greement in the Holly case"
And If l succeed / am to GET"
IF you succeed we will agree to pay
you $4,000 as your fee for accomplish
ing this.
Needless to say, this is a very un-
usual proceeding on our part, Miss
Preston"-the lawyer continued suave-
ly, but his keen eyes were closely
scrutinizing his stenographer-"an
our contract must, of course, be verbal
and held in strict confidence by both
sides"
Two rows of white teeth flashed in
whimsical smile as the girl turned
to the man. Il suppose verbal con-
tract is binding in law"
Yes. indeed" Hampton heaved a
relieved sigh.
We'll, then, we will consider the
matter closed. If all you expect for
your client is jury disagreement, you
may rest contented. It's foregone
conclusion" She stopped abruptly. Il
shall want the rest of the week Off, !"
she concluded.
After the girl had gone Hampton
turned to the other lawyer. Il won
der If she can deliver the goods?" he
asked.
She certainly has a convincing line
of talk" laughed Brown. IF she's
bluffing, can't see where she has any
thing to gain except, possibly, half
weeks vacation"
1T will help things wonderfully If
she can do what she thinks she can, y
continued Hampton. I'm fact, / have
no doubt but what it will save Holly
from the chair"
What the dickens did she have in
the bag?" asked Brown.
Search me. / never quite realized
| before that she existed-except as an
| inanimate bit of Office furniture" And
there the conversation turned to other
channels.
Holly's chances of acquittal were
anything but favorable. His own sui
len reticence and attitude of indiffer-
ence were bound to make a poor i'm
preston on the jury.
Saturday was the time set for sum-
ming up. On this day the case was to
be given over to the twelve men in the
sbox.
On Friday afternoon, however, oc.
Cured a startling incident which was
avidly seized upon as ammunition by
the defense, and bid fair to wholly
change the verdict about to be rem.
dered.
An obseryant policeman discovered
a suspicious character prowling in an
alley in the rear of the apartment
house wherein Holly had resided and
promptly arrested him. Nor could the
policeman be convinced that he had
not brought the escaping defendant
in the Holly case back to justice.
Even when the new arrival was
placed side by side with the prisoner
the officer remained unconvinced
And there were others besides him
who were puzzled-for the two men
were as alike as peas in pod. Iden
teal in dress, similar in action, voice
and gesture, they were living dupli
Gates Neither would advance an ex
planation-if he could. The duality
was doubly demonstrated when, upon
being taken to their respective cells
one of them turned suddenly to his
escort with: Say, who do you think
| ann"
why, Dan Holly, of course" an
swered the surprised jailor.
You're wrong" came from the pris
oner. 'Yonder goes Holly" He
pointed to his retreating double, just
disappearing down a dim corridor
The puzzled warden scratched his
head.
Hey, Bill" he called, come bach
here!" The other turned and retracet
his steps, leading his prisoner
What do you want?" he growled
The matter was explained to him ant
long forefinger scratched aside the
scanty hairs of a retreating forehead
as the second guard gave the complex
ity his serious consideration. HI
turned TO his man.
rs this right" he asked.
NO" came the srrly rejoinder. "tht
fellow is liar"
With yell of ..age the other pris
| ~.