Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-02-13

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 so back-to be him
self again. to be Jessicas-if Hugh
died. The reading voice drummed in
his ears:
The facts have not as yet been ascer-
tained but Il seems clear that the popu-
lar young minister returned to town un-
expectedly last night and was asleep in
his study when the fire started His
presence in the building was unEuessed
until too late. and IL was by little short
OF a miracle that he was brought out
alive.
AS we 20 TO n->-s we learn that Mr..
Sanderson's condition Is much more hone
ful than was at first reported
Harry's heart contracted as IL a
giant hand had clutched Il His Ella.
ton fell like a rotten tree girdled at
the roots. II Hugh did not die. He
chilled as though In a spray OF LIQUID
air. Hugh's escape-the chance his
conscience had given him-was cut of.
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-
tmony is ordered stricken from the
records. The fne is RENTED MIR.
Fielder We can't make you response
bic for lunatics. The court stands ad-
journed"
Fielder had been among the last TO
leave the courtroom. lie was dis
comfted and angry. At the door Of
the courthouse Dr. Brent slipped an
arm through his
TOO bad. Tom" be said sympathlz.
ingly Il don't think you quite de.
served IT,"
Fielder paced a moment without
speaking. Il need evidence" be said
then; anything that may help /!
made a mistake. You heard all the
testimony
The other nodded.
what did you think OF itT'
What could any one think? I give
all credit 60 your motive. Tom. but it's
pity you're mixed up In IL"
"Whyy'
Because. II there's anything In hui
man evidence. he's thoroughly worth
less reprohate He lay for Moreau
and murdered him in cold blood and
he ought 20 swing"
1.-THE casual view" said the lawyer
gloOmily Just what I should have
said myself-if this bad happened a
month ago"
His friend looked az him with an
amused expression Il begin 20 think
said "Is Il possible he has really con
WINGED you that he isn't guiltyT'
Fielder turned upon the doctor
squarely. Yes" he returned bluntly
"He has, Whatever may have be
lieved when I took this case. l have
come 20 the conclusion-against all my
professional instincts. mind you-that
he never killed MOreau believe he's
as Innocent as either you or r.
"He has as good as admitted 10 Miss
Holme that he knows who did f."
"Come. come. Putting his neck into
the moose for mere Quixotic feelingi
And who. pray. IN this God fOrsa ken
town. should be be sacrificing himself
fprT" the doctor asked sauIricany ~
That's the rub" said the lawyer.
Nobody. Yet I hang by my PROPOSE
ton !"
"Well. he'll hang by something less
tennons. I'm afraid But IL wont be