The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-08-29
CHAPTER xxx.
THE woRL IS SO LARGE.

AS for the man who had made the
extraordinary assertion, he seemed
quite unconscious Of the eeffct which
it had produced; as If the fact that the
supposed heir to an earldom, being ac-
tually the son of a Chaplain bricklayer
was one that found its natural place in
everyday life.
He had his car in his hand-a shah
by, gray tweed cap-and he was twirl-
ing it between his fingers round and
round with an irritatingly v ges-
ture. His eyes now n again were fur
lively raised at the coroner as If he
were wondering anxiously what pun
ishment would be meted out to him for
having created so much commotion and
then with equal furtiveness he dropped
them again. His shoulders were bowed
and his knees parted company from
each other, thus giving him more than
ever the appearance Of a beetle.
OF course the coroner had to recover
his Official manner as quickly as pos
sible. But even to him the statement
had come as a surprise. He had only
known very vaguely that a witness lac
come forward at the eleventh hour,
having only just had time to communi-
cate with the police before the opening
of the inquest.
In view OF the importance Of the
evidence, the witness vas called as
soon as possible; what he had to say
would materially affect the whole trend
Of he inquiry; he had, it seems,
brought others with him-members OF
bis own family among them-in order
that they might c~orroborate the truth
of what he said.
Quite q minute or so had elapsed in
the MEANWHILE; then at last was he
able to resume with at least a
semblance Of official Indifference:
Now" he said. let the jury under
stand a little more clearly what you
sale just now"
what 1 said?" rejoined the man,
vaguely.
yes, what you said. Let us UNDER
stand 1t clearly. You went to the NOR
tuary this morning and saw h body
Of the deceased?"
Yes, SIR"
And you state here on oath that in
the deceased you recognized your own
SOM"
I'll swear to 'im," replied the witness
simply. ASK is mother, there!"
And with a long, thin finger. gener-
ously edged with CRIME, he pointed to
the woman in seedy black hat and
shabby tweed jacket. who sat quite
close to Luke de Mountford.
Never mind about his mother just
now" admonished the coroner I'VE
want your statement first. You realize
that you are on oath?"
Yes, sir. I've sworn my bible oath"
And o understand the Importance
Of an OATH"
Yes, sir"
And you swear that the body Of the
murdered man whom you saw in the
mortuary chamber this morning Is that
Of your SOM"
d" swear to that, sir"
I believe that had the coroner and
jury and practically every man there
present, dared to put their thoughts
into words at that moment, the ejacu-
lation: We'll! l am blowed!" or I'm
ID" as the case might be-would
have been generally heard throughout
the room. The women, on the other
think.
Now" resumed the coroner, tell the
jury, please, when you first identified
the deceased as your SOM"
"This morning, sir"
'In the mortuary chamber"
Yes, cir"
you had not seen the body before 90
mo, sir"
did you know that other witnesses
have sworn that the body Is that of a
gentleman called Philip de Mountford?"
Yes, sir. l knew that"
Then do you mean ia assert that
those other witnesses have sworn false
oaths ?"
"Oh. no, SIR" retoined James Bake r,
with an apologize smile Of lf-dep-
recation. Il wouldn't sal such a thing.
sir"
We'll them"
They was mistaken, sir. that's all.
Paul was that clever, sir; ask Is moth
er there"
n once more the lean and grimy
finger pointed to the seedy looking ma
tron, who nodded a melancholy head,
half In pride, half In regret.
Clever, did yoa say2" asked the cor
oner, more briskly now. At last he
held q thread In this extraordinary