Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-08-25


a daze Of Joy, and De Heidelmann-
Bruck felt the cold hand of death
clutching at his heart.
1t was Alice come to her lovers
need, Alice risen from the flames, Al
ice here for Christening and justice!
"What is you name? questioned the
judge.
MARY Coogan," was the clear an
swer.
"Your nationality"
II am an American. I came to
France as a little girl"
"How did that happen?"
my father died and-my mother
married a second time"
"Your mother married a French
man?"
EYES,"
"What is the name Of the French
man whom your mother married?"
The girl hesitated, and then, looking
straight at the baron, she said, 1.-THE
Baron de Heidelmann-Bruck."
SIS your mother livingY
mo"
"How did she die?"
The witness turned to Kittredge.
"My mother was burned to death
in the charity bazaar fire." she an
sWered in q low voice.
State what you remember about the
fire."
The girl looked down and answered
rapidly: My mother and l went to
the charity bazaar with the Baron de
Heidelmann-Bruck. When the fire
broke out there was a panic. There
was a window near us. through which
some people were climbing. My moth
er and l would have been able to
escape, but the Baron de Heidelmann-
Bruck pushed us back and climbed
through himself"
"1t's a lie!" cried the baron hoarsely.
"Silence!" warned the clerk.
"And after that"
There came into her face a look of
terrible sadness.
II don't know what happened after
that for a long time. I was very i'll
and-for years I did not remember
these things"
"You mean that for years you did
not remember what you have just tes-
tifed?"
"Yes, that is what I mean"
The ROOF was so hushed in expecta-
ton that the tension was like physical
pain.
"You did not remember your mother
during these years?"
"No."
mot even her nameW
She shook her head. II did not re-
member my W name"
But now you remember every
thing"
eyes. everything"
when did you recover your men,
ory?"
at began to come back a few weeks
ago."
Under what circumstances"
"Under circumstances like those
when-when / lost it."
"How do you mean?"
dip She turned slowly, as If
drawn by some horrible fascination
and looked at De Bruck.
The baron's face was CHASTITY white.
"Yes?" encouraged the Judge.
II was in another fire." she MUIR
INJURED. still staring at the baron. Il
I nearly lost my life there"
The witness had reached the end Of
her strength. She was twisting and
untwisting her white fingers piteously,
while the pupils of her eyes widened
and contracted in terror. She stagger-
ed as if she would faint or fall, and
the guard was starting toward her
when. through the anguished silence,
a clear, confident voice rang out:
"4hce"
1t was the prisoner who had spoken.
1t was the lover who had come to the
rescue and whose loyal cry broke the
spell Of horror. Instantly the girl
turned to Lloyd with a look Of infinite
love and gratitude, and before the out
ragged clerk Of the court had finished
his warning to the young American
Alice had conquered her distress.
"Tell us in your W words" said
the Judge kindly. 'how it was that you
nearly lost your life a second time in
a fire."
In a low voice. but steadily, Alice
began her story. She spoke briefly of
her humble life with the Bonnetons,
of her work at Notre Dame. Of the oc-
casional visits of her supposed cousin,
the ~woodcarver, and finally described
the moment when she was thrust into
that cruel chamber and left there with
M. Coquenil-to perish.
Women screamed and tainted, men
broke down and wept, ever the judges
wiped plying eyes, as Alice told how
Paul Coquenil built the last barricade
with fire roaring all about him and
then how he dashed among leaping
flames and. barehanded, all but naked.
cleared q way to safety.
Through the tense silence that fol-