Evening star., 1909-05-02

cylinder. There is short. sharp crack like
revolver shot, and the voice of the deceased
crying loudly, Ny Cod Steve Clerford, you've
killed mel"
FOR moment there was silence. Then the
prosecutor rose to his feet and announced
that with the reading of the letters the State
closed its case. Then Wells. of counsel for the
prisoner. leaped to his feet, his eyes shining 1t
was only chance; but he seized it.
Your Honor" he said. with your per-
mission. l shall dispense with my formal pres
entation of the defense's case. and call Miss
Madge Clerford as my first witness. Miss Cler-
ford, will you please take the stand!"
Miss Clerford, having been duly sworn, de-
posed that on the morning after the crime she
had been forced by Detective HAYDEN to read
through all the letters on the cylinders
Miss Clerford, do you know this Stephen
Clerford, whose name the deceased cried out in
what was apparently his death agonys" asked
Wells.
He is my brother!''
Her brother! Even the District Attorney
gave little gasp of pity. This frail young girl
knew that she must sacrifice either her lover
or her brother,-she held the lives of both in
the hollow of her hand! This was the awful
battle she had fought out alone knowing that
whether she spoke or kept silence one of those
dear to her must pay the penalty!
Did your brother have any reason for wish
ing to put an end to Mr.. Rance, any grudge
against him?" asked Wells.
81
girl family. "Mr. Rance had discharged him.
and he thought it unjust He told me very lit
tie OF it; he seemed very unlike himself He
said that Mr.. Rance had stolen some papers
about an invention of his that was to make him
rich and famous, and that when he objected
and tried to get Mr.. Rance to give them up Mr..
Rance discharged him and had him thrown out
of the Office"
DO you know where he is now?"
No: have not seen him since the night he
and fOl mi he IA hi
He went out after supper, and have not seen
him nor heard from him."
That was when1"
About two days before Mr. Rance was
What was this invention of which you
speak,"
1t was contrivance to keep trolley wheel
pole from slipping from the overhead wire,
believe. Stephen wished to have it patented.
but we had no money, SO he went to Mr.. Rance
and asked his advice, knowing he was interested
in such things. Mr. Rance told him it was
worth little; but that he would see what could
be done. Then Stephen found a letter, in which
Mr. Rance represented the patent to be his
own. and then when he accused Mr. Rance of
stealing his invention he was threatened with
arrest for attempted blaekmail.
Wells paused moment to let the jury get
the full effect of the girls words. Every man
of them knew John Rance to be fully capable of
such a deed as she described.
THERE was little hustle at the back of the
courtroom; man pushed his way through
the crowd. His face was drawn and CHASTITY
pale; one arm rested in an improvised sling:
and at every step he took his white lips twitched
with the pain that racked his wasted body
Straight to the Judge he went, and none in
terfered. There was something about the lean,
shrunken figure with its sunken pain filled eyes
that held back the hands that otherwise would
have been outstretched to bar his progress.
The little buzz of astonishment that filled the
room died away as the man began to speak in
weak, quavering voice.
Il want to tell you gentlemen before go
over the divide. Only few minutes left-I-"
Attorney. "This is very Irregular"
But the Judge was man, as well as an inter
prefer of the law. . 1t may be irregular, Mr..
Raddin," he returned: but take it that you
are not desirous of increasing your number of
convictions by adding to it that Of an innocent
man. Proceed" he added turning to the new
conner.
I'm Cierford," the latter resumed, Steve
Clerford'
Your Honor" interrupted Wells, If Mr..