Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-13


toned in connection with that Portrait
And therefore Without no matter" he
said slowly. " | WISH for your own sake, and
not merely to satisfy my curiosity that you
least with Sir George. However, III do what
YOU ask III make no further attempts-at
present-to discover the original of that por-
trait"
That was not precisely what had asked him.
but let it pass. | knew by his way of saying
it that it was Annes portrait right enough, but
had gained my point. and that was the main
thing
THE hearing at the police court next day
was more of an ordeal than | had antIci-
pated, chiefly because of my physical condition.
| had seemed astonishingly fit when | started
IN a cab, accompanied by couple of policemen,
considering the extent of my injuries and the
sixty hours Journey had just come through,
and was anxious to get the thing over, but
when got into the crowded court. where saw
numbers of familiar faces. including Mary's lit
tie white one,-she had come up from Cornwall,
after all, bless her-I suddenly felt myself
weak as cat | was allowed seat in the dock
and leaned back in it with what was afterward
described by the reporters "apathetic
air" though | was really trying my hardest to
avoid making fool of myself by fainting out
right. That effort occupied all the energy |
had. and heard only scraps of the evidence
which seemed, to my dulled brain, to refer 10
some else and not to at all
At last there came confused noise, shouting
and clappng and above it a stentoran voice.
Silence, Silence III the COURT"
Some one graSped my right arm-Just where
the bandage was, though he didn't know that
and hurt me SO badly that | started up invol-
unfairly, to find Sir George and Southbourne
just in front Of the dock holding out their hands
to me, and | heard a voice somewhere near.
Come along sir, this way. You can follow
to the anteroom, gentlemen. Can't have
demonstration IN court.
felt myself guided along by the grip on my
arm. which was like redhot wise. There were
people pressing about me, all talking at once
and shaking hands with me.
| heard Southbourne say, sharper and
quicker than I'd ever heard him speak before
Here. look OUT Stand back. some of you!
THE next | knew ! was lying leather
sofa with my head resting something
soft. My collar and tie lay on the floor beside
me. and my face was wet, and something warm
splashed down on it, just | began to try to
recollect what had happened. Then ! found
that | was resting on Mary's shoulder and she
was crying softly. 1t was one of her tears that
was trickling down my nose at this instant. She
wiped it off with her damp little handkerchief
You poor boy! You gave us real fright
this time" she exclaimed, smiling through her
tears. wan little ghost of a smile, but We'll
soon have YOU all right again when we get You
home"
I'm all right now. dear I'm sorry I've
upset you So, | said and Jim hustled forward
with some brandy in a flask and helped me Sit
up.
saw then that Sir George and Southbourne
were still in the room. The lawyer sitting
ON table close by, watching me through his
gold trimmed eyeglasses, and Southbourne was
standing with his back to us, staring out of the
window.
What's happened anyhow" | asked. and
Sir George got off the table and came up to me.
charge dismissed. | congratulate you Mr..
Wynn, he said genially. There wasn't
shred of real evidence against you. though they
tried to make lot out of that bit of withered
geranium found in your waste paper basket,
Just because the housekeeper remembered that
Cassavetti had a red flower in his buttonhoe
when he came in. but was able to smash that
point at once, thanks to your cousin.
He bowed toward Mary. who, she
saw me recovering, had slipped away and was
pretending to adjust her hat before dingy
mirror.
Why what did Mary do"
Passed me note saying that you had the
flower in your buttonhole when you left the
Cecil | called her as a witness, and she gave
her evidence splendidly."
Lots of the men had Them" Mary put II
hurriedly. Il had one too, and SO did Anne
quite bunch And my! | should like 10
know what that housekeeper had been about
not to empty the waste paper basket before9 ]
don't suppose he's touched your rooms since
YOU left them Maurice!"