The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-11
CHAPTER VIII-Continued.

! BY o'clock we were back IN court
again. and how changed everything
seemed! All that desultory feeling Of the
morning was gone. and as I looked about
over the faces I could see how every ones
mind was fixed on the same thing. A
woman whom I did not know, jostling at
my shoulder as went in. confded 10 me
that what she wanted was. ITO hear
Dingley tear the defense 10 pieces" I
wondered If the only people in the room
who didn't want to hear that were my
self and the Spanish woman.
But it was Mr. Jackson who got Up
first. Though I had heard all the evil
dence that morning 1t had come out in
such little bits and patches with such
! disagreements of lawyers between and
I had myself been so in the midst OF
1t that had no idea as 70 how it would
sum up; and had been waiting anxious
ly 10 hear what this man. whom father
said was such a fine lawyer. would say
He began with a sort OF Grafton. all
about the Montgomery family. and what
a fine family they had been, how much
they had done for the city, Then he
talked about Johnny, and he drew a very
beautiful picture OF him. speaking OF his
great promise and tAne character and
then Of the blow which was being struck
at his brilliant career: and Il was some
how awful TO have TO listen 10 it. for even
/ su7posing IL were true. this seemed
scarcely the time for saying it. I could
see Johnnys face getting more and more
set-looking and grim. as If he hated lis
- h- I-+ ms
over his head
Then. in some way couldn't follow,
Mr.. Jackson got from that to talking
about courts and evidence, and corrobo-
rating testimony; and though for while
] couldn't make out what he was driving
at. presently II began TO appear 20 me
that he was trying 20 prove that ali the
witnesses on the States behalf had been
lying. He was wonderfully clever in his
way Of making the testimony seem i'm
probable He pulled even mine 10 pieces.
pointing out the revolver's not being
where I said il had fallen. He declared
there was a plot against the prisoner;
that the gunsmlth who had testified about
the buying OF the pistol had been bribed
TO do so; and he appealed 20 the feelings
OF humanity and justice in the jury
He spoke beautifully. II made ones
heart beat 10 hear Just the tone Of the
voice. even though one couldn't suite un-
derstand what he was saying. And yet it
was strange I thought that with every
thing he said he did not bring forward.
or even try 20 bring forward, one single
direct proof 10 show that Johnny Mont
gomery was innocent.
I was in a very confused state Of mind,
indeed when Mr.. Dingley got TO his feet.
Though had never heard him speak in q
court, I had read in the newspapers that
he was Our golden-tongusd orator" and
father mad been used to say that Ding
ley was a whirlwind." But now, when he
rose and turned toward the jury box and
began. his voice sounded stir and cold.
as II he brought Il out with a great effort.
He didn't shake his finger az the jury. as
Mr.. Jackson had done nor fling out his
hands, nor lift his arms in the air and
bring them down as If he were bringing
the world down on ones head He simply
stood there. and in a matter Of fact. even
voice gathered up the evidence Of the diff
ferent witnesses as one would beads in
the hand, and strung them together; and
saw a long chain Of evidence winding
around Johnny Montgomery. AS he went
on measuring il out. for the first time 1
understood how heavily my testimony
counted. II seemed 10 do away with the
whole defense In spite OF Mr.. Dingley,
the case seemed 10 be proving itself, and
as he went on he warmed TO the very
sound of his own argument, his voice be-
gan to ring out more and lost sight and
memory OF everything that Mr.. Jackson
had said
All heads were craning toward him as
he stood with his back 20 all Of US. talk
ing at the men in the jury box as II they
: were the only people in the world The
II Spanish woman was leaning forward,
her elbow on her knee. her head dropped.
her hand hiding the lower part OF her
face. but looking out from under her eve
brows like a picture I had once seen OF a
prophecies I felt that we were being
wound up every moment more and more
tense. and when Mr.. Dingley stopped he
left US at the highest pitch possible for
human beings 10 bear. When he sat
down again he gave a quick glance behind
and around him. and. as for a moment it
fingered on the Spanish woman I thought
it seemed a little defiant
I hardly realized what was happening in
room around me. The Judge was reading
something endless 10 the jury. not one
word Of which my ears could take. Then
that sound ceased. and presently I no
ticed that the jurymen were leaving the
room.
With the closing Of the door upon them
the aspect of things behind the ratings
changed. the judge getting UP. walking
Irestlessly back and forth in front of his
platform for minute. then going back
to his writing: the clerk OF the court
keeping on with his. and most Of the law
years going out Mr.. Dingley passed US
with just bend OF the head. and father
glanced after him and made a little sound
IN his throat. a sort Of meditativs him
Of surprise. But the crowd kept very
quiet; as the minutes passed the room
grew more and more still. A sense OF
nervousness was over all Every time a
door opened there was a rumor that the
jury was coming back
We'll, it may be five minutes. and il
may be all night" ] heard Mr.. Ferguson
saying TO father. THAT pistol disappear
ing is going TO give him chance" Father
answered. That was a guilty mans de-
tense. just the same"
But I seemed to have forgotten there
were such things as guilt or innocence,
kept watching Johnny Montgomery.
who was sitting almost alone, with his
head a little bent forward. looking NJ
the table In front Of him. The light fell
strongly on his face. making it almOs;