Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-28
CHAPTER xxx.
The World Is So Large.

Vx1A4 4GQk 004As
The World Is So Large.
AS for the man who had made the ex-
traordinary assertion. he seemed quite un-
conscious Of the effect which it had pro-
duced: as If the fact that the supposed
heir to an earldom being actually the son
Of q Chaplain bricklayer was one that
found its natural place in everyday life.
He had his cap in his hand-a shabby.
gray tweed cap-and he WAS twirling 1t
between his fingers round and round, with
an irritatingly nervous gesture. His eyes
now and again we're furtively raised at
the coroner. as II he were wondering anx-
iously what punishment would be meted
out to him for having created so much
commotion. and then. with equal furtive-
ness. he dropped them again. His Shout
ders were bowed and his knees parted
company from each other, thus giving
him more than ever the appearance OF
beetle.
OF course the coroner had to recover
his official manner as quickly as possible.
But even to him the statement had come
as q surprise. He had only known very
vaguely that q witness had come forward
at the eleventh hour. having only Just
had time to communicate with the police
before the opening Of the inquest.
In view Of the Importance OF the evil
dence the witness was called as soon as
possible; what he had to say would ma
terially affect the whole trend Of the In
quiry: he had, 1t seems, brought others
with him-members OF his own Iamliy
among them-in order that they might
corroborate the truth of what he said.
Quite minute or so had elapsed In the
meanwhile; then. at last, was the coro-
ner able to resume, with at least SEM
blance of Official indifference:
Now" he said, '.let the jury under
stand a little more clearly what you said
just now"
what 1 said?'' rejoined the man.
vaguely.
Yes. what you said. Let us under
stand it clearly. You went to the mortu-
airy this morning and saw the body OF the
deceased?''
Yes, SIR
And you state here on oath that in the
deceased you recognized your own SOM
I'm swear to 'im"' replied the witness.
simply. ASK lis mother there"
And with long. thin finger. generously
edged with CRIME, he pointed to the wom-
an in seedy blac., hat and shabby tweed
jacket who sat quite close to Luke de
Mountford.
Never mind about his mother just
now" admonished the coroner. We
want your statement first. You realize
that you are on oath?"
Eyes, sir. I've sworn my Bible oath"
"And you understand the Importance
Of an oath?'
Eyes, sir
"And you swear that the body Of the
murdered man which you saw in the
mortuary chamber this morning is that
Of your son.
II swear to that, sir
believe that had coroner and jury. and
practically every man there present, dared
to put their thoughts into words at that
moment. the ejaculation We'll. am
might be-would have been generally
heard throughout the room. The women.
on the other hand, were far too excited
even to think
Now" resumed the coroner. tell the
jury, please. when you first identified the
deceased as your son.
This morning, sir
I'm the mortuary chamber?
Eyes, SIR"
You had not seen the body before?'
Did you know that other witnesses
have sworn that the body is that OF a
gentleman called Philip de Mountford?"
yes. sir. I knew that
Then do you mean to assert that those
other witnesses have sworn false oaths?"
"Oh, no. sir" rejoined James Baker.
with an apologize smile of seif-depreca-
ton. Il wouldn't say such thing. SIR"
"Well. Them
"They was mistaken, sir, that's all.
Paul was that clever, sir; ask is mother
there
And once more the lean and grimy
finger pointed to the seedy-looking ma
tron, who nodded melancholy head,
half in pride, half in regret.
Clever. did you say" asked the coro-
ner, more briskly now At last he held .
thread in the extraordinary tangled skein.
Then do you mean to assert that your
son-Paul Baker-went about the world
calling himself Philip de Mountfofd?''
THAT must ave been 1t, sir, think
"Deceiving people?"
AYE! e was ever bit o. no good
You think he imposed upon his lord
ship. the Earl Of Radclyffe?
"'E must ave done. sir, mustn't e now,
seein' as 'ow is lordship must ave been
took in?''
You helped him in the deception. sup
poser"
is mother amt clever enough for such
things! We knew nothin Of Pauls doin's,
and e allus went is own way, SIR
But. at least. you knew that this frau;.
was going on?"
mot exactly, SIR"
How do you mean not exactly?' re-
torted the coroner. sharply. You seem
to be unconscious Of the fact that this
story which you are telling the jury 10 q
very serious matter. indeed. II 1t is true,
ton against your dead son. but with this
accusation you may be involving yourself
or some other member If your family in
an exceedingly serious charge Of fraud.
the penalty for which. II proved, would
be very severe. indeed. On the other hand.
IL the story you tell is nothing but q cock
and-bull tale. which further evidence
would presently demolish. then you lay
yourself open to q charge Of perjury and
Of conspiracy to defeat the ends OF JUS
tice. have thought best to give you this
word Of warning-the last which you will
get from me-because. really. you do not
seem to be fully conscious Of the extreme
gravity Of your position"
The bricklayer from Chaplain had lis
tened to this admonition, delivered with
solemn emphasis and no small measure Of
severity, with kind OF stolid indifference.
He retained his humble, apoiogetic atti-
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