The Detroit times., 1913-02-07
CHAPTER XXI.
(contlnusd.)

and he gave a great sigh of relief
Perhaps North expected Belknap {
perform some miracle OF vindicatio
In his behalf. certainly when hi
counsel advanced TO the rail ina
guarded the bench there were bot
authority and confidence in his man
ner, and soon the dingy court room
was echoing 10 the strident tones o
the old criminal lawyers voice. A
the minutes passed. however, 1t be
came a certainty with North that M
miracle would happen.
Belknap concluded his plea short
~ before o'clock. And this was th'
end--this was the last move in th'
game where his life was the stake
In spite of his exhaustion OF minG
and body North had followed tho
speech with the closest attention. III
told himself now, that the states
case was mistaken. that the facts
stubborn and damning, were not tC
be brushed aside.
Moxlow's answer TO Belknap's ples
was brief. occupying little more thar
half an hour, and the trial was end
ed. 1t rested with the Jury TO say
whether John North was innocent or
guilty. As the jury filed from the
room North realized this with feel
ing OF relief in that that at last the
miserable ordeal was over. He had
never been quite bereft OF hope, the
consciousness OF his own innocence
had measurably sustained him in his
darkest hours. And now once more
his Imagination swept him beyond
the present into the future: again he
could believe that he was TO pass
from that room free man to take
his place in the world from which he
had these many weary months been
excluded There was no bitterness
IN his heart toward any one, even
Moxlow's harsh denunciation of him
was forgotten: the law through It's
bungling agents had laid its savage
hands on him, that was all, and these
agents had merely done what they
conceived TO be their duty.
He glanced toward the big clock
or the wall above the judges desk
and saw that 80 minutes had already
gone by since the jury retired An
other half-hour passed while he
studied the face Of the clock, but the
door of the jury room. near which
Deputy Sheriff Brockett had taken up
his station, still remained closed and
no sound came from beyond IL. AT
his back he heard one man whisper
TO another that the jurymen's dinner
had just been brought Gin from the
hotelst
THAT means another three-quar-
ters OF an hour-it's their last chance
10 get a square meal at the county's
expense," the speaker added, which
earned him a neighboring ripple of
laughter.
Judge Langham and Moxlow had
withdrawn to the formers private
room. Sheriff Conklin touched North
on the shoulder.
IT guess we'd better go back,
john" he said. IF they want US
tonight they can send for US"
Morbid and determined, the specta-
tors settled down to wait for the YER
dict. The buzz of conversation was
on every hand, and the air grew
thick and heavy with tobacco smoke.
while relaxed and at ease the crowd
with it's many pairs Of eyes kept
eager watch on the door before which
Brockett kept guard. No man in the
room was wholly unaffected by the
sinister significance of the deputy 6
presence there, and the fat little man
with his shiny bald head and stubby
gray mustache, silent, preoccupied'
taking no part In what was passing
about him, became as the fgure OF
fate.
The clock on the wall back OF the
Judges desk licked OF the seconds
now II made itself heard In the husl
that stole over the room, again II!
message was lost in the confusion o
sounds, the scraping Of feet or TIT
hum OF idle talk. But whether tn
crowd was silent or noisy the clocl
performed Its appointed task until II
big gilt hands told whoever cared t
look that the jury in the John Nortl
case had devoted three hours to II
verdict and its dinner.
The atmosphere OF the place had be
come more and more oppressive. Mel
nodded sleepily In their chairs, con
versation had almost ceased, wheI
suddenly and without any appsren
reason Brockett swung about on hii
heel and faced the locked door. Hit
whole expression betokened feverisf
interest. The effect Of this was i'm
mediate. A wave of suppressed ex
element passed over the crowd; alb
solute silence followed; and then from
beyond the door, and distinctly aud
ible In the stiffness. came the sound
OF quick step on the uncarpeted floor
The clock licked twice, then a hand
dealt the door a measured blow.
The moment OF silence that follow
ed this ominous signal was only brok
en- when a deputy who had been nod
ding half asleep In his chair, sprane
erect and hurried from the room. As
the swinging baize doors banged Of
his heels, the crowd seemed TO breathe
again.
Moxlow was the first to arrive. The
deputy had found him munching a
sandwich on the courthouse steps.
His entrance was unhurried and his
manner quietly confident; he put
aside HIS well-worn overcoat and took
his seat at the counsel table. \ little
ripple OF respectful comment had
greeted his appearance; this died
away when the baize doors ~ the
back OF the room swung open again
TO admit North and the sheriff.
North's face was white, but he wore
q look OF high courage He under
stood to the full the dreadful hazard
81 the next few moments. With never
q glance to the right or TO the left. hi
crossed the room and took his seat
as he settled himself Ia his chair
Belknap hurried into court.
Judge Langham had not vet apnoar
ed. and the crowd focused it's atten
tionlOn the shut door leading into NJ