Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-10-11
lcHAPTER 1Y.-continued.l

gomery's case. Having to rush off at
such short notice was luckily too
busy to have time to worry about 1t;
coming up through the valley Perez
let me drive good deal, and the
horses were so spirited needed all my
wits to keep them from running away.
But when we began to wind in and
out among the tall round hills to the
south Of the city, nervousness came
upon me, and kept wondering what
could be wanted Of me. BY the time
we reached the house on Washington
street could scarcely sit STILL
Father was standing in the door to
welcome me. fairly few up the steps.
What is the matter?" asked almost
before Rugged him.
by and by we will talk about thai"
he said Now, come in and see what
fine host am But as passed him
heard him say to Perez. Before you
put up the horses l want you to take
this note out to Mr., James Dingley,
at his house, and wait for an answer
1t was a charming table. lit with
candles, and there was delicious din
ner, but was too excited to eat. The
glass of wine that father made me
drink only seemed to make my
thoughts spin faster, wondering what
could be going on since by fathers
and the message he had given
Perez, Il felt sure it must be something
unusual. When dessert had been put
on, and Lee had gone out, leaving us
alone there opposite each other, |
thought, "Now, it's coming"
Father had set down his coffee cup.
untasted II have had to send for you,
Ellie,'' he said, "because Of matter
connected with the trial"
s My heart was beating quickly and
in spite of myself my voice trembled.
When does it begin?' I asked.
ut began last week" father an
swered, "but there has been no evil
dence of any consequence vet"
He was silent for moment, looking
at the dancing flames OF
the candles II suppose you know" he
went on, that, in trials there is usual
ly plenty of circumstantial evidence,
but eye witnesses are rare and their
testimony most valuable?"
l nodded. This feeling of suspense
was intolerable.
II very much hoped that yours
would not be necessary. Mr.. Dingley
was of that opinion. But a new devet-
opment has suddenly arisen, and now
am afraid you will have to be states
witness-the most important one they
will have"
There are no words to tell of the
panic / was in. Fathers face wrinkled
with anxiety, was watching me. i
would give anything to keep you out
of it," he said.
I tried to make my voice steady.
"And will have to tell them whether
or not think him guilty?"
He put his hand over mine. GOD
bless the child, no! You will have to
tell them only exactly what yon. saw,
all that you saw, and just how you saw
it,"
l could breathe again. After that one
awful moment, when the whole weight
of the trial seemed on my shoulders.
anything was relief. But. father"
said: "do you really think that he is
guilty?p
Father gave me an odd look. aren't
you the one person in this city best
qualified to answer that question:
l stared at him. / felt as if had
been suddenly. set up in high tower,
above all other people in the world.
and that I was going to fall. / had
known in blind sort Of way what
had seen. and, also, that no one else
had seen it; but had not realized the
terrible isolation, the responsibility OF
such knowledge. "Oh,' cried, Il only
wish / had never gone near Dupont
street. I am so sorry / have made you
unhappy"
"Well, my dear child, this is no time
for regretting what has been done. We
must think of ourselves only as two
citizens of the state, and be ready to-
do all we can in that cause. You know
it will not be easy, it will be made las
difficult as possible for you to answer
straightly." He had hold of both my
hands now, was looking hard into my
face "And a young, good looking pris-
oner will make it harder yet" His ewes
seemed to go straight to my thoughts.
ELLIE, can depend upon you, can't
I?'
was glad could say in quite a
steady voice, ooh, yes, yes!"
He smiled. "Of course I should have
known without asking. Now don't fret
about It. TO bed, to bed, to bed! we
shall have to be up early tomorrow
if we are to be in court by nine
o'clock"
He was smiling as he said this. with
his old gaiety. but i suspected he was
only putting it op to cheer me, as /
now understood Sonora Mendez had
done when she had taken me shopping.
After got upstairs I couldn't sleep.
At about ten o'clock heard the door
bell ring, then long heavy steps going
down the hall, and the shutting of a
door which guessed to be the door of
the study. That. was odd: father sell
dom had visitors so late. tossed and
tossed kept trying to picture the
court room. I saw it as vast place,
with cold chilly light, like the hall
of the prison. filled with a surging mob
of people; serried rows of lawyers all
in white wigs-the memory of some
English pictures-and terrible Judge
in black gown, calling out my name.
Suppose, even with the best could do,
l should make a mistake; forget some
thing, or, what would be much worse,
remember something wrongly!
realized that was hearing voices
with remarkable clearness. was able