The Washington herald., 1912-11-03

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you may suborn spies. tamper with
railvay servants and hotel porters--
Mrs. Admastonw exclaimed Sir
John, 10 a>shoeked voice.
and do al the rest Of the degrad-
ing work that seems inseparable from
this court"
Mrs. Admaston," broke in the pres
ideat again, you must not talk like
that"
"My lordr she cried, with a wild
sob. what right have they to treat me
like this? Am to be treated as guilty
merely because courted temptation!
I don't know what I've said-I don't
know what ! shall say before this tor
ture is complete-but l am sensible
enough to know that I have no chance
at all against this horrible insinuation
that twists every bit of harmless and
girlish folly into some vicious and de-
basing form! l tell you, it is all lies
Lies-nothing but liesw
With . sob and a shuddef, she leaned
against the railing and pressed her
hands to her face. There was long.
uncomfortable silence, broken only by
the sound of the girls passionate weep
ing. The president ostentatiously pol
ished his glasses and more than once
man IN the room swallowed hard and
stared at the wall. Sir Roberts voice
broke jarringly into the hush.
"Now, Mrs. Admission, must ask
you to give me your very closest at
tention"
Sir John cleared his throat you
must try to be more composed If you
wish to do yourself justice" he said,
gently. The storm seemed to be pass
ing, but the girl was still dabbing at
her nose and eyes when Sir Robert re-
sumed his questioning.
You still persist in saying that your
visit to Paris was the result of an ac-
cident?"
"Of course l do" she cried. with
sudden anger.
Sir Robert turned to the president.
Has your lordship got that document
which Mr.. Admaston identified when
he was in the witness box?"
That was the anonymous letter re
ceived by Miss Admaston, MIR. Ad-
maston's aunt, was it not" He rum
mayed among the papers on his desk.
Yes; l have it here in the envelope"
Perhaps your lordship will allow
the witness to look at the envelope"
suggested Sir Robert.
Mr. Macarthur rose quickly
MY lord, submit again that moth
ing can make this letter evidence" he
protested.
And again you are right" replied
the president. "But, Mr.. Macarthur, at
present Sir Robert is not suggesting
that it is evidence. Usher please hand
this to the witness.
An usher stepped forward, took the
letter, and handed it to Peggy. She
glanced down at the address.
Now, Mrs Admission, will you look
at the envelope!" requested Sir Robert.
You will see that it is dated May 23,
and the .postmark shows that it was
collected at 10 80 a. m Now, you still
persist in saying that at the time that
letter was posted nothing was further
from your mind than that you were
going to spend the night in Paris"
y have already said so," returned
Peggy. with dignity. .
"And you say so still!'
"Of course | do"
The letter is addressed to Miss Ad-
maston, your husbands aunt, is it
not" continued Sir Robert. And
Mr.. Admission has sworn that she
brought II to him at the House of
Commons shortly after ; o'clock of
the same day. Mr. Admaston has also
sworn that it was the information con-
tanned in that letter which caused him
to have you watched at Boulogne and
in Paris"
Yes: I know
"And at the time that letter was
written you say no one could have pos
sibly known that you were going to
miss the train at Boulogne or spend
the night in Paris?"
"Of course they COULDN'T" exclaimed
Peggy. a trife impatiently.
Now / take it." persisted Sir. Rob-
ert. that you believe your husband
when he says that the letter was in his
hands shortly after 3 o'clock-before
you even left England?'
Peggys lips trembled and her eyes
filed again.
Il believe my husband implicitly"
she said, in low, passionate tones.
Again Admission raised his eyes to
look at her for a moment.
bO yOu ISSOSHiES tiiC HdHu"iitihS'
asked Sir Robert.
Il have never seen it before" replied
the girl. after a moments study of the
envelope.
81 don't want to interrupt you, Sir
Robert" broke in the president. but
do you know who's handwriting it is?"
"No. my lord. l am really asking
for information"
Its very curious" commented Sir
John.
TT is, my lord My learned friend,
Mr.. Carteret. who is watching the case
on behalf of Miss Admission. informs
me that he. has had it submitted to
every well-known handwriting expert
in England"
"And compared with the writing of
every person. however remotely con-
nected with this ease?" inquired Sir
John.
:"It has even been compared with
Mrs. Admaston's," replied Sir Robert.