St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-05-18

the slender, shapely figure was very
straight Her beautiful blue eyes, full
of varying lights, flashed. then became
dimmed. A suspicion of mist blurred
the long, sweeping lashes. He had a
big, noble spark in his soul, and think
Of him many, many times" she re-
peated, the sweet, gay lips trembling
sensitively. Brave fellowl Brave
fellow
"Pity he should have been drowned,
though" Captain Forsythe went on.
''He would, 1 am sure, have made a
most interesting study in contrasts
Here Ronsdale lifted his hat May
happen back this way he observed
''That is,'' looking at Jocelyn Wray. ''if
you don't object"
'I? Not at all OF course it would
bore you-a trial! You are so easily
bored. Is it the club?''
mo, another engagement. Thank
you so much for permission to return
for you. Very kind. Hope you will
find it amusing. Good morning. And
Lord Ronsdale vanished down the mar
row way.
The others Of the party entered the
courtroom and were shown to the seats
that Captain Forsythe had taken par
ticular pains to reserve for them.
'"That's John Steele cross examining
now" Captain Forsythe whispered to
the girl And the witness-that's
Dandy Joe. as he's called, one Of the
police spies, cheap race track man and
SO on, in the box. He came to the
front in a murder trial quite celebrat-
ed in it's day and one l always had
my own little theory about Not that
1t matters now" he added, with sigh.
But the girl was listening to another
voice, a clear voice. quiet voice,
voice capable of the strongest varying
accents. She looked at the speaker.
He held himself with the assurance
of one certain of his ground His
shoulders were straight and broad. He
stood like an athlete, and when he
moved it was impossible to be uncon-
scious of certain physical grace that
came from well trained muscles. He
carried his head high. as If from a
habit Of thought of looking up, not
down, when he turned from the pages
Of the heavy tones in his study. His
face conveyed an impression of intel
igence and intensity. His eyes. dark
and deep, searched fully those they
rested on.
He had reached point in his cross
examination where he had almost
thoroughly discredited this witness
for the prosecution when, turning to-
ward a table to take up paper, his
glance, casually lifting, rested on the
distinguished party in the rear Of the
room. or, rather, it rested on one of
them. Against the dark background
the girls golden hair was well calcu-
lated to catch the wandering gaze.
The flowers in her hat, the great bunch
of violets in her dress added insistent
a1luring bits of color in the dim spot
where she sat. Erect as lily stem,
she looked oddly out of place in that
large, somber room. There. where the
harsh requiem of bruised and broken
lives increasingly sounded, she seemed
like some presence typical Of spring,
waited thither by mistake. The man
continued to regard her. Suddenly he
started, and his eyes almost eagerly
searched the lovely, proud face.
His back was turned to the judge,
who stirred nervously, but waited a
fraction of second before he spoke.
eff the cross examination is finish
ed''- he began.
John Steele wheeled; his face chang
ed; smile Of singular charm accom-
panied his answer.
'SYour lordship will pardon me; the
r. Aer h., +
the moment, by a curious psycholog-
ical turn, feature of another prob
lem seized me. It was like playing
two games of chess at once. Per-
haps your honor has experienced the
sensation"
His lordship beamed. "Quite So"
he observed unctuously.
The business of the morning ran on,
and John Steele at length concluded
his cross examination. II think, your
lordship, the question of the RELIABLE
ity Of this man as a witness in this
or-any other case-fully established"
"Any other case?' said his lord
ship. 1--WE are not trying any other
case"
witness may CO." said his lordship
DruSQuely-
Dandy Joe. good deal damaged in
the worlds estimation. stepped down.
His erstwhile well curled mustache Of
brick dust hue seemed to droop as he
skunk out of the box. He appeared
subdued, almost frightened, quite I'M
like the jaunty little cockney that had
stepped so blithely forth to give his
testimony.