Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-02-04

feat, after all, for the cXertion brought
AGAIN the dreadful stabbing pain, and
this time it carried Hugh into a re-
glon where feeling ceased, conscious
ness passed and from which he strug-
gled back finally to find the surgeon
bending anxiously over him.
II don't like that sinking SPELL" the
latter confided to his assistant an hour
later as they stood looking through the
window after the receding carriage.
"lt was too pronounced. Yet he has
complained of no pain. He will be in
! good hands at any rate" He tapped
the glass musingly with his forefinger.
Its curious" he said after a pause.
Il always liked Sanderson-in the pull
pit. Somehow he doesn't appeal to me
at close range"
The special ear which the bishop had
ready had been made a pleasant inte-
rior. Fern boxes We're in the corners,
a Gagged canary swung from a bracket,
and a softly cushioned couch had been
prepared for the sick man. A moment
before the start, as it was being cou-
pied to the e a Of the resting train,
while the bishop chatted with the con-
ductor, a fustered messenger boy hand
ed him a telegram. 1t read:
I arrive Admission tomorrow 5. Conf
Dental. Must see you. Urgent.
JESSICA.
The bishop read it in some perplex-
ity. 1t was the first word he had re-
ceiyed from her since her marriage;
but, aware of Hugh's forgery and dis
grace, he had not wondered at this.
The newspapers today pictured a still
worse shame for her in the position of
the man who in the name still was her
husband, who had trod so swiftly the
downward path from thievery to the
worst Of crimes. Could Jessica's COM
ing have to do with that? He must
see her, vet his departure could not
now be delayed. He consulted with
the conductor, and the latter pored
over his tablets.
AS a result his answering message
flashed along the wires to Jessica's
faraway train:
Sanderson injured. Taking him to
coast train 4S due Twin Peaks 2 tomor-
row afternoon.
And thus the Hateful moment APP
preached when the great appeal should
be made.
The evidence of the first days trial
of the case of the people against Hugh
Stires was the all engrossing topic
that night in Smoky Mountain. Bar
ney McGinn perhaps aptly expressed
the consensus of opinion when he said,
Il allow we all know he's guilty, but
nobody believes it,"
Late as Smoky Mountain sat up that
night, however, it was on hand next
morning, rank and file, when the court
convened.
All the previous evening, save for a
short visit to the cell of his client,
Fielder had remained shut in his Office,
thinking Of the morrow. In his talk
with Harry he had not concealed his
deep anxiety, but to his questions there
was no new answer, and he had re-
turned from the interview more non
plused than eve He had wondered
that Jessica Oh this last night did not
come to his office, but had been rather
relieved than otherwise that she did
not. He had gone to bed heavy with
encouragement and had walked in the
morning with foreboding.
AS he turned from greeting his eli.
ent in the packed courtroom Fielder
noted with surprise that Jessica was
not in her place; not that he needed her
further testimony, for he had drawn
from her the day before all he intended
to utilize, but her absence disturbed
him, and instinctively he turned and
looked across the sea of faces toward
the door.
Harry's glance followed his, and q
deeper pain beleaguered it as his eyes
returned to the empty chair. He saw
Mrs. Halloran whisper eagerly with
the lawyer, who turned away, with 9
puzzled look. In his bitterness the
thought came to him that the testi-
mony had sapped her conviction of his
a. ~