The Washington herald., 1913-03-02

desperate. She'd think she had no one
to defend her-and you know the Frayn
way"
Il shall not endeavor." said I. after
consideration, ito reconcile medieval no
tions of honor and personal dignity with
proceedings under the Iowa code. Neither
do feel 1t prudent for me to see this
person"
For a few minutes Chester sat grind
ing his teeth and gripping the desk. and
then rushed from the office calling me q
white-livered dub. and telling me to go
plumb to some place the name OF which
was cut of by the doors slamming. 1
sat in the ofiice feeling a sense Of unrest.
until the time for going to court. where
I found Judge Worthlngton on the bench,
Chester sitting at the defendants table.
and no Miss Frayn.
Are both sides ready In the next case?'
asked the Judge, without looking at the
calendar.
I'VE wish to put the defendant on the
stand for few questions" said Beasley.
Middlekauff's lawyer. II don't see her in
court. your Honor
Call the witness,' said the Judge: and
the bailiff shouted three times: Robert
Lefrayne.'
Has this man been subpoenaed?" asked
the Judge: "as he is defendant, don't
suppose you thought 1t necessary, Mr..
Beasley."
We could all see that the pronunciation
Of the name had misled the Judge as to
the identity of the defendant
ITO make sure" said Beasley. I'VE sub
poenaed the party. Here Is the writ. your
honor. with proof of service"
''Mr. Clerk said the Judge. frowning
sternly. Issue bench warrant! Mr..
Sheriff. attach this witness. and produce
him at once. Some of these tardy wit
nesses will go TO jail for contempt II this
Is repeated! Call your nextr"
Chester was pale as a ghost, and ac-
costed the bailiff as he went out with
the warrant. Then he came back and
listened with flushes OF anger and clench-
ed teeth to the reading of the pleadings,
to which the Judge seemed to pay no
attention. At two. after the intermis-
sion. the bailifr. Capt Winfield. an old
G. A. r. man. appeared with Miss Frayn
on his arm. He was blushing and fumb
ling his bronze button. while she smiled
up at him in a charming, daughterly
way that brought back dangerous symp-
toms Of relapse in my psychic nature.
Call the witness Lefrayne." cried the
Judge.
Light. airy. daintily flushed. she float
ed up to the bench. The fine for con-
tempt died in Forceythe Worthingtons
lighted embarrassment
1T was raght kahnd OF you. Judge
Wo'thin'ton." she said. looking up into
his face, ito send Capt. Winfield to
ramahnd me Of nah engagement hyah.
Why, he was at Franklin. and Chlcka-
mauka. and knows Tennessee! And now.
gentlemen. what can All do foh you-
alI?''
The Judge stepped down from the bench
H..
chair like a lord chancellor placing a
queen on her throne. Beasley looked at
the witness as IL fascinated. MiddlekauH
seized him by the lapel OF his coat
Don't look at her, Beasley, more'n
yeh en- help" he whispered. II tell
yeh. it's dangerous
And yet / am selected to bear blame
for a momentary weakness OF the pre-
vailing sort! -
Proceed. gentlemen said Jude.
Worthington.
Beasley gathered up his papers. Are
you the defendant asked he.
'Ah don't quite gathah youah mean
in. suh." said she, but All think not,
suh"
You're the teacher of the Boggs
School, in Teal Lake Township
"Oh. yes. subj" said she. 'Pahdon
me, thought you inqu,hed about
something else.
Judge worthington stared as II
struck by a dart.
Let me see the papers in the case"
said he excitedly.
Beasley handed them up. and the
Judge examined them carefully. Then
he handed them down. turned his back
on Miss Frayn. and spoke in a low
tone. like one greatly shocked.
Proceed" said he.
Something in his tone or in the turn
ing of his back seemed to strike upon
the senses Of Miss Frayn as unpleas-
ant or hostile. The few questions put
to her by the lawyer to lay the foun-
dation for some other bit of evidence
did not appear to affect her at all:
and when she took her seat between