The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-14
A Mystery
Romance
Y
Copyright. 1909. by Dodd.
Mead q Co.
{con,inued from Yesterday. J

straight game with the men who hand
out my bread and butter. Ynn can lag
your bets on that"
Presently Thorne began to address
the jury. During the trial his line of
defense had been insanity. the defense
Of the defenseless. the foriorn hope of
the hopeless. The bench had frowned
Mt 1t; the jury had shaken its head as
one man. Insanity to 5uries in the
metropolis had become as q red rag to
q bull.
Before turning 10 the jury, however,
for his last effort Tborne stopped and
whispered b Mrs. Chailoner:
ssT'm sorry, Mrs. Chaioner. that We
couldn't do better with our facts. 1t
seems to ne our defense Is the weak.
eat have ever seen put up In any
case.
But somewhat to his establishment
this remark was received by Miriam
Challoner with that same degree OF
confidenee that had characterized her
attitude all through the trial. On her
face WAS certain unexpla1nahie
something which not only be had
noted, but which the people had
noted. the men at the psess table had
noted and commented upon freely In
their copy-a glow that had never
faded from the eyes OF the woman.
flush upon her cheek that bad never
paled and that said more plainly
than words chat she was certain OF
fhn ocus4ff<st nF haw S,uuha
"Devilish One actress" Thorne
thought 70 himself, and 1t was with
admiration that he heard her whisper
with q suat,s:
You're making = glorious light, Mr.
Thorne. You're bound to succeed"
And her marvellous hopefuiness sue
eeeded in enheartening him and was
reflected IN his Illustrations to the
jury when dwelling on the many fne
points In the character OF the accused.
He was particularly happy In i'm.
pressing upon bis bearers that Chsi-
temperament and mental bias: that IL
Challoner had taken the life Of Har-
graves 1t was only after the mans
soul and mind had eaten poison from
the hands Of his eneuy--HarYraves.
Thorne paused. Assuming 3 mat
ic pose and turning toward fashion
ably gowned young woman with bar
of sunlight streaming down her face
who sat in the courtroom. he riveted
his gaze ON her. all eyes following in
that direction.
There" he said, bis voice sinking
to whisper, but whisper that could
be heard all over the courtroom, rs
the woman In the case-the real cuI-
prit--a temptress. vampire. . Gree;
a woman who has made mess Of the
lives Of two men and only God knows
how many others: woman who play
ed the game to her own selfish endsl
And here you have the results"
For fun minute Lefty Love un-
blushingly returned the lawyers prob
ing glances. Plainly she rejoiced in
the stares which she felt were To-
cused upon her. for no one knew bet
ter than she that her beauty was In
fecting ali present. aud 1t was not I'M
til she had drunk her ill Of the cup or
publicity that she turned her head
away and looked out upon the sunIit
street.
Challoner. too. was able to see the
face OF the woman who was responsi-
Bile for his misfortunes. That same
glance. however. brought his wife also
into bis line of vision, making 1t pos
sibie for him 70 contrast the tive eoua-
tenances, and he was surprised to 6nd
himself not only admiring the wealth
OF cotoring and glow upon MIriams
face. but actually loathlng himself for
ever having admired the ugly lines
which he now saw un the sunlit face
OF Lefty Love. and his whole nature
revolted against her.
III only l had left her to Colonel
Hargravesr be muttered to himself.
losing all but his counseI's concluding
words.
And all thar l want. all that ask
OF you. gentlemen OF the Jury. Is that
You give us what we hare not had 90
far-a fair. square deal"
Thorne sat down. satisfied that he
had made an impression Out Of his
material he had hewn the inevitable
result, debauchery: ont Of this de-
bauchery he fashioned the conclusion.
insanity: ont Of I victim be bud made
a murderer: out Of 4 murderer be had
made hero whose irresponsible emo
lions cried ont to 4 jury Of his peers
for Justice. even for retribution against
the murdered mnn.
Shirley and Miriam leaned over and
shook hands with Thorue.
I'VE can't lose" whispered Miriam,
and there returned 70 her face that
mYatRriQna e1nreasinn OF -cnniidenc4s
The lawyer turned to Shirley and said:
Does shs understand that we must
lose r.
rob. no. No ons can tall her that
And, bcstowinG on him ! rare smile.
she added. And now. ~. Thorne, an