The Detroit times., 1913-01-25

along about four o'clock crossing
the Square
How was he dressed. ala you
notice?"
''He was dressed like the man IN
the alley,-he had on a black derby
hat and a dark brown overcoat."
That's ALL" said Moxlow quietly.
The coroner and the jury drew
aside and began whispered consul
tation. In the Initiated atmosphere
OF that overcrowded room. heavy az
IL was with the stining heat and
! palpably dense with the escaping
smoke from the cracked wood-stoye,
men coughed nervously with every
breath they drew. but their sense OF
physical discomfort was UNDECIDED In
their tense interest I'm the develop
ments OF the last few moments. The
jury's elaboration was brief and
then the coroner announced its YER
dict.
North heard the doctors hating
words without ut once grasping heir
meaning A long moment OF silence
followed, and then q man coughed,
and then another. and another; this
seemed to break the spell. for sud
denly the room busxed with eager
| whisperings-
North's first definite emotion Wa
one OF intense astonishment. Were
they mad? But the faces turned to-
ward him expressed nothing beyond
curiosity. His glance shiftsd 70 the
| Official group by the table. These
| ood-natured commonplace men who.
| whether they liked him or not had
| invariably had q pleasant word Tor
him, instantly took an afr Of grim
aloofness. ConkIin, the fat jolly
sheriff; the coroner; Moxiow, the
prosecuting attorney in his baggy
trousers and seam-shining coat
why, he had known these men al
his life, he had met them daily
what did they mean by suspectlng
him! The mere suspicion was
monstrous wrong! His face red
dened; he glanced about him
haughtily.
Now at a sign from the coroner.
| Conklin placed his fat hands on the
arms of his chair and slowly drew
himself out OF its depths, then he
crossed to North. The young fellow
rose, and turned q pale face toward
| him
John" said the sheriff gently. Il
have an unpleasant duty to Per
| form"
In spite of himself the pallor deep
ened on North's face.
IT understand" he said In voice
| that was low and none too steady.
During this scene Moxlow's glance
had been conferred on North In 4
fixed stare OF impersonal curiosity,
now he turned with quick nervous
decision and snatching up his shabby
hat from the table. left the room.
Langham had preceded him by .
few moments, escaping unobserved
when there were eyes only Tor
North.
. 81 am ready, Conklin."
And a moment later North and the
sheriff passed out into the twilight.
Neither spoke until they came to the
courthouse square.
Wen 20 In this way. john" said
: the sheriff In tone that was meant
: 10 be encouraging, but failed.
, They assembled the courthouse
: steps. and went down the long cor
!, rIdor to the rear OF the building.
, Here they passed out through wide
/, doors and into q narrow yard that
separated the courthouse from the
fail. Crossing this sandy strip they
entered the sheriff's Office Conklin
paused; North gazed at him inquir-
ingly.
ITS too bad, John" said the
sheriff.
Then without further words /he
led North to door opposite thaf by
which they had entered. 1t opened
on long brick-paved passagSTWay, at
the end OF which was nigE OF mar
row stairs. Ascending thfse North
found himself In another tlong hall.
Conklin paused before the frst OF
three doors on the right and pushsd
II open.
said
North stepped quickly in and
glanced about him. The r6om hsld
an iron bedstead, a wooden chain
and, by the window which overlook
ed the Jail yard and an alley De-
yond. a wash stand with q TIN basin
and pitcher
Say, amt you going TO see law
! yer?" asked the sheriff. He may
be able to get you out Of thiS you
O can't tell"
"Can you send a message to young
i watt HARRISON for meS' interrupeed
North.
Certainly. but you don't call him
}, much OF lawyer. do you? tell you
8 Jchr, you want a good lawyer; wnara
3 the matter with Marsh LanghamI
, Watt will do for the present. He
can tell me the one or two things ]
need TO know now" rejoined North
indifferently.
"All right, I'll send for him then"
The sheriff quilted the room, closing
and locking the door after him. North
heard his footsteps die out In the long
passage. At last he was alonei He
threw himself down on the cot, Dor
manhood seemed TO forsake him.
my God--Elizabeth--"h he groansd
and buried his face In his hands.
The law had lifted a sinister finger
and leveled It at him.
CHAPTER XIII.