Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-08-06
THE HANDS OF THE CLOCK
Continued hDm page 10

to the telegraph office after dinner to be
sure that any message coming for him would
be sent to the courthouse, and he knew she
would wait
The minutes licked off as slowly as hours,
and no sign came from the locked jury room.
Judge Pettingi1l was in his chambers, wait
ing. Sam sat in his seat, his head nodding
with drowsiness, and beside him sat the
Sheriff and his deputy. Warren was alone
at his table, the other reporters having gone
out to file early stuff. He felt helpless, i'm
potent, and his mouth and throat became
parched.
He got up to stretch his tense muscles
Joe Pettingill moved menacingly toward
him, and he sat down again. Crown and
Pettingill watched him to the exclusion of
everything else in the courtroom. He began
to blame himself. He wished he had raised
a hue and cry for Pete Burwell, although he
knew it would have been fruitless Then he
hunched helplesslv down in his seat, and his
gaze became fascinated as he watched the
face of the clock and the black hands.
They seemed to move speedily now. \
quarter of an hour of his stolen time re-
manned Then only ten minutes were left
He groaned in his soul, and wondered if he
had groaned aloud. The long hand sped
over the intervening space, and only five
minutes remained. \ hush fell upon the
room, and everyone there could hear the
measured tick of the clock as its old fash
toned pendulum swung to and fro.
THERE were two minutes left, when
figure shot into the door, twisting past
Marshall, who tried to bar the way. 1t was
Molly. She sped down the aisle, placed
telegram in front of Warren, and withdrew.
Before she could get out of the room, even
while Warren was tearing feverishly at the
envelop, the first stroke of midnight from
the clock sounded like the Clang of fire
alarm bell
"One, two" came the internal clamor
from the clock. He saw Crown rise with an
eager look on his white face and reach under
his coat. He saw the men in the front rows
gather for spring. He heard shutter
bang at the third stroke of the clock, and
then there came a laundering knock at the
door of the juryroom.
Warren almost tainted. Crown hesitated
an instant and sat back in his seat, his eyes
fixed grimly on Warren. The others re-
manned at their posts; but made no move.
it he heard the dry Tipped foreman say
"Guilty!" and NIolly's slmothered cry at the
back of the room. He dashed the telegram
in front of Harper.
"Read that he almost shouted
Harper read it and 1eaped to his feet with
the paper futtering in his trembling hands.
"If your Honor please, have here abso-
lutely conclusive evidence, which have just
received. of the innocence of the prisoner
and another's guilt he said Il submit
this evidence to the District Attorney and
to your Honor, and move that the verdict
be set aside and the prisoner discharged"
He handed the despatch to Harrington
and sat down. The Prosecuting Attorney
glanced at it, then rose and read aloud:
LESTER WARREN, Colfax Courthouse
Have arrested Pete Burwell for the Marshall
assault and robbery Have ample evidence
besides his own confession.
(Signed) ROBERT BoARDMAN.
Chief of Detectives.
This was drama, and the temper of the
crowd changed like spring sky. At first
there were murmurs of astonishment, then
cries of Good for the reporter" and cheer
or two which Judge Pettingill sharply re-
pressed. The Judge called the prosecutor
up to the bench for a conference, in which
Crown joined informally. Harrington in turn
beckoned to Harper and Warren. who told his
story and Molly's. Then they all went back
to their seats. Judge Pettingill expectorated