Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-01-18
Whispering
Pines

A soon as l could. I don't know
what you mean by Immediately"
Didn't you stop at the stable?"
A pause. during which more than one
person present sat breathless. These
questions were what might be expect
ed from Mr.. Fox in cross examination.
They seemed totally unsuited to a d.
rect examination at the hands of his
W counsel. What did such an inno-
walton mean? %
Eyes; 1 stopped at the stable"
"What to do?"
ITO look at the horses"
"Why?"
"One Of them had gone lame. I want
ed to see his condition."
"Was it the gray mare?"
Had the defense changed places with
the prosecution? 1t looked like it. The
situation was too tempting for Mr..
Fox. With an assumption of extreme
consideration he leaned forward and
muttered under his breath to his near
est colleague, but still loud enough for
those about him to hear:
'"The prisoner must know that he is
not bound to answer questions when
such answers tend to incriminate him"
A lightning glance shot in his direc-
ton was the eloquent advocates sole
reply.
But Arthur. nettled into speaking,
answered the question put to him in a
loud. quick tone: "It was not the gray
mare, but I went up to the gray mare
before going out. patted her and
babe her be a good girl"
"Where was she them"
"Where she belonged-in her STALL"
The tones had sunk; so had the
previously lifted head. He no longer
commanded universal sympathy or
credence. The effect of his former
avowals was almost gone.
Yet Mr.. Moffat could smile. AS l
noticed this and recognized the salts
faction it evinced my heart went
down i'll great trouble. This esteemed
advocate. the hero Of a hundred cases,
was not afraid to have it known that
Arthur had harnessed that mare; he
even wanted it known. Why? There
could be but one answer to that, or
so 1 thought at the moment. The
next I did not know what to think,
for he failed to pursue this subject
and simply asked Arthur If upon
leaving he had locked the stable door.
"Yes-no-I don't remember" was
the bungling and greatly confused re-
ply.
Mr.. Moffat glanced at the jury, the
smile still on his lips. Did he wish
to impress that body with the embar-
rassment of his client?
"Relate what followed. l am sure
the jury will be glad to hear your story
from your own lips"
tits a beastly one, but if I've got
to tell it, here it is: I went straight
down to Cuthbert road and across the
fields to the clubhouse. l had not
taken the key to the front door be-
cause l knew Of a window I could
shake loose. l did this and went i'm
mediately down to the wine vault. I
used an electric torch of my own for
light. l pulled out several bottles
and carried them up into the kitchen,
meaning to light the gas. kindle a fire
and have a good time generally. But
I soon found that l must do without
light If l stayed there. The meter
bad been taken out, and to drink by
the flash of an electric torch was any
thing but a pleasing prospect. Be-
sides"-here he flashed at his coun-
sci a glance which for a moment took
fhof carf10ro10 va re- L-I L-.-I
certain vague sounds in the house
which alarmed me as we'll as reused
my curiosity. Choosing the bottle I
liked best, l went to investigate these
sounds"
Mr.. Moffat started. His witness
was having his revenge. Kept in ig-
torrance of his counsel's plan of de-
Tense, he was evidently advancing
testimony new to that counsel. 1 had
not thought the lad so subtle and
quaked in secret contemplation of the
consequences. So did others, but the
interest was intense. He had heard
sounds-he acknowledged it. But what
sounds?
But I did not complete my in
vestigations. Arrived at the top Of
the stairs, I heard what drove me from
the house at once. 1t was my sis
ter's voice-Adelaide's. She was in
the building, and 1 stood almost on a
level with her, with a bottle in my
pocket. 1t did not take me q minute
to Chamber through the window. l
did not stop to wonder or ask why
she was there or to whom she was
speaking. 1 just fed and made my
way as we'll as I could across the
golf links to a little hotel on Cuth-
bert road, where I had been nee be-
fore. There I emptied my bottle and
was so overcome by it that l did not
return home till noon the next day.
It was on the way to the hill that 1
was told of the awful occurrence
which had taken place in the club
house after 1 had left it. That sober
ed me I have been sober ever since"
Mr.. Moffat's smile came back. One
might have said that he had been
IN thor nloa sod than othorwisa nv the