Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-30

During the weeks that Coquenii and
Alice lay in the hospital. slowly recov.
ering from the shock and their burns.
the time swung around for the trial
OF Lloyd Kittredge on the charge Of
numbering Martinez. the billiard play
er.
II was a delightful September after
noon. The courtroom in the PaIais de
Justice was crowded with fashiona-
bles intent on Witnessing the trial OF
Lloyd Kittredge Pussy Wtlmott. in
her most fetching gown. sat well down
in front A distinguished looking man
pressed through the crowd and was
given a seat on the platform occupied
by the three Judges. The Baron de
Heidelmann Bruck" whispered eager
tongues as the uoblemau was thus hon
ored Yes: q was the baron. intent
on witnessing the last act In the awful
drama be bad inaugurated
And now. suddenly. the blow fell.
AS the prosecuting officer scared along
In his oratorical Eight a note was
passed unObtrusively 70 the presiding
Judge, a modest little note folded on
itself without even an envelope 10 hold
unnOticed; then the Judge. with care
less eye. glanced over 1t; then be start
ed, frOwned. and his quick rereading
showed that spark Of something had
dashed from that scrap OF paper.
The presiding judge leaned quickly
toward bis associate on the right and
whispered earnestly. then toward hts
associate on the left. and one after
another the three magistrates studied
this startling communication. noddinR
learned heads and lowering judicial
eyebrows. The public prosecutor blazed
through bis peroration TO an inatten-
tive bench
No sooner had the speaker finished
than the clerk OF the court announced
brief recess, during which the Judges
withdrew for deliberation aud the au-
dience buzzed their wonder. During
this interval the Baron de Heldelmann-
Bruck looked frankly bored.
On the return OF the three an an.
nouncement was made by the presid-
ing Judge that important new evidence
In the case had been received. evidence
OF so unusual character thar the
judges had unanimously decided 10 in
terrupt proceedings for a public hear
ing of the evidence IN question IL
was further ordered that no one be al
lowed 20 leave the courtroom under
any circumstances
-'Call the first Witness" ordered the
Judge. aud amid the excitement caus-
cd by these ominOus words n small
door opened and woman entered
leaning on a guard She was dressed
simply In blacs aud hea Willy yelled. but
her girlish figure showed thar she was
young. AS she appeared Kittredge
started violently The woman came
forward 20 the witness stand aud Ilft.
ed her veil. As she did so three dis
dnct things happened; The audience
murmured its admiration AT vision
81 strange beauty. Kittredge stared in
a daze OF JOY, and De Heidelmann-
sSruck felt the cold hand OF death
clutching at his heart.
II was Alice come 10 her lovers
need, Alice risen from the DANES. Al
ice here for Christening and Justice!
What is you name?" questioned the
judge.
MARY Coogan." was the clear an
swer
Your nationality"
Il am an Americah. L came u
France as a little girl"
How did that happenI"
My father died and-Iny mother
married a second time"
Your mother married a French
manT"
Yes"
What Is the name OF the French
man whom your mother married?"
The girl hesitared. and then, looking
straight al the baron. she said, The
Baron de Heidelmann- Bruck"
us your mother hvingT
mo"
How did she dieT"
The witness turned 10 Kittredge
My mother was burned TO death
I'm the charity bazaar IRE" she an
swered in a low voice
state what you remember about the
Gre"
The giri looked down and answered
rapidly; My mother and { went TO
the charity bazaar with the Baron de
Aeidelmann- Bruck. When the tire
broke out there was panic There
was "a window near US. through Whlcn
some people were climbing My moth
er and } would have been able 20
escape. but the Baron de Heidelmann-
Bruck pushed US back and climbed
through himself"
ITS a Hep cried the baron hoarsely.
"SilenceP' warned the clerk
And after thatP
There came into her face a look OF
terrible sadness.
Il don't know what happened after
that for a long time. ! was very III
and-for years / did not remember
these things"
you mean that for years you did
not remember what you have just tes-
tihedy"
Yes. that Is what I mean"
The room was so husbed in expecta.
ton that the tension was like physical
pain
You did not remember your mother
during these yearsT"