The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-08-29

Harris, a charming English, girl of fam
Wsairk inish Sions sn the T BSaleva Th' wat a4sco'ii Il
a November rain. runs into a tragedy
cab; his companion who had left the cab
some time before n told the cnauiIeur
70 drive to q certain address, had oisapN
peared and Is unknown.
The scene shirts to London. Luke ae
Mountford, Louisa's ~affianced, the nepm I'M
I Ioro heir az the eccentric ana waiieged
brother. mas notlned Lord Radcliffe OF a nns
Of Luke, p clsim Sid tb mas Re- R has s,sxamined the
poster.
Suddenly the alleged Phillip de MOUNT
toru appears In London. After a snoiss,nns
aeTVlew with Lord Radcliffe DIS hair
WI Wft~b bee9saized ana he ~ instance e@ractieaily
Phillip seems to exert n1hIcb
ilso influence over Lord Radciii1e 49,
R hazzies rs friends and defes my To no
one. F&
A year has passed since the tragedy IN
PIusSeis. suddenly It Is repeated n1pSSStSII,1
detail In London. The victim is PhiiI1pp
ae Monntford. Every circumstanSSe Sis-
. very apparent motive points TO InS e Iy
IN vain, Louisa, In her blind falth. .Las aI
10 prove Luke Innocent. Every investiga.
ton brightens the chains of eyidenSe. a.
9pmsnt that the murdered man Is NOT
Phllllp de Mountford but q eomhnoa
seonnarel denounced by his iatnsr tS sr
n mother. who Identified the bod t aS It
ooes not In the least upset the appalhns
proofs OF Luke's guilt. A warrant y y.
sued for his arrest but because OF ms
station in life the police secretly warn
him to leave the country before the war
rant ID served. This he prepares TO 90.
LOUISA sees him n asks him polnteoIE
Tor the truth. He confesses his guilt
Here the heart OF a woman discerns his
lie and the real truth hat he Is protect
ing someone else. Immediately she asks
that Luke's love for his uncle must be
bound up with the solution. In the mean
time the uncle has been stricken and no
one permitted to see him. She demands
request Is denied but she insists, finally
the physician grants permission. Lord
Radcliffe recognizes no one does not
understand what Is said to him. Alope
with him for a moment she rehearses the
story to him, although he is apparently
unconscious. At the mention of Luke's
name and he fact that he Is accused OF
indulgence. When the physician returns
he has spoken and demands that what he
"a to say be taken down and witnessed.
But nobody stirred; no one would
have thought Of leaving before the last
act Of this interesting play. The chief
actor was not on the stage for h mo-
ment, but his presence was felt. 1t was
magnetic in its appeal to excitement.
Every question put by h coroner eV-
cry reply given by h witness, had. as
1t were, Luke de Mountford for its aim;
nryArry xxynnI NA~IAI 80 At~a Aia s,n
doing, the e~nmeshing Of his denials in
the close web Of circumstantial evil
dence.
Then a diversion occurred.
The man in the shabby clothes, who
looked like a beetle, and who had mar
shalled his companions into the court
room early in the day, was called upon
by the usher to come forward. His
strange, poorly-clad figure detached it.
self from the groups Immediately round
him, his long, loose limbs seeming to
swing themselves forward.
His four comprehensive three
women and the other man-were seized
apparently with great agitation and
whispered eagerly among themselves.
these people had been called. They
seemed so completely out of the picture
which had it's invisible frame in Gros-
venor Square.
Go on, Jim!" whispered one Of the
young women, they can't do nothing
to ye;"
shambled forward, with arms dangling
beside him, a humble, apologize look
On his care-worn face. He might have
been any age from 80 to go; time and
a perpetual struggle for existence had
wiped way all traces Of actual age. The
cheeks were hollow, and eyes, mouth,
nnI ~ 0N1 .nhn nod N 1nnNN rrtHInL "A
ded to h settled melancholy Of the
face.
He was obviously very and
looked across at his own friends, who
strove to encourage him by signs and
whispers.
He nearly dropped the bible when it
was handed TO him, and no one could
mechanically at the usher's bidding.
At last he mustered up a sufficient
amount OF courage to state his name
and address.
James Baker," he said in answer to
the coroner's question. "Bricklayer by
trade"
And where do you live?"
AT lat Chaplain Junction Road, sir"
replied the man, scarcely above a
whisper.
Speak up, please" admonished the
coroner, 1.-THE jury can't hear you. You
came here, I understand, prepared to
make q statement"
Yes, sir"
"Of what nature?"
The man shifted his position from
one leg to the other. Heavy beads Of
p~erspiration stood out on his pallid
forehead.
Go on, Jim; don't be afeeard," came
from the body Of the court.
SILENCE there!" commanded the ush-
err.
Il wished to say, sir" resumed the
man, trying to steady his voice, that
the deceased whom l saw lying in the
coffin yonder Is my own son, Paul
Baker. SIR"
Your son!"
My son, SIR" asserted the man
somewhat more steadily, my son, and
is mothers, as Is sitting over there.
My son, Paul Baker, as left 'ome two
year age come next Christmas. We
all come ere, sir, today, me and is
mother and sister an Smith an Jane
we all como ere to swear to i'm"
"Your soni"
The exclamation once more came
from the coroner, blu had any one else
dared, that exclamation would have
been echoed and re-echoed by every
mouth In the court room, coupled with
emphatic calculations Of incredulity.
1t was as II In a new castle OF some
grim, sleeping monster a magic wand
had touched every somnolent spirit.
Smelling salts and scented handker-
chiefs were forgotten: the jurymen
leaned forward half across the table,
oblivious Of their W dignity. in their