The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1913-10-10

seemed to understand. She rose with
a gesture, and in frozen dignity adj
dressed the court.
Judge Wo't'h'in'ton," said she,
"Ah'm not quite ce'tain All get the full
meanin' of this, but All feel that All
CANT pe'mit 1t to go fu'thah All de-
siah to say to you as a gentleman and
an acquaintance, If not friend, that
these all things that can not be said
of a lady. subj" $50
/ "The defendant" said the Judge,
after two or three Intellectual attempts
to speak, will be heard through her
counsel-proceed!"
She was hurt and desperate as she
sat down, and in cold and livid fury.
With her eyes level and shining like
knife-points, she put off, with a look
like a blow, Chester's efforts to COM
fort her. She sat, an alien in an inhos-
pitable land, hedged about by wall
of displeasure at some formless insult,
and at friends without chivalry. The
Judge began stating his decision, Civ
ing the argument for the one side and
then for the other, as judges do.
"The evidence tends to prove" said
he, that Roberta Lee Frayn has a
malign fascination over her pupils
the larger boys especially; that she
has lured them into personal attend
ance upon her rather than to study;
that she has melted young men to
duels, brawls, breaches of the peace,
and"
l could see that she thought the
phrase cit tends to prove" an express
sion of his belief in the charges; and
as he went on her face famed red
once more, and then went white as
snow. She stepped back from the ta-
BILE as if to clear for action, one little
hand lifted, the other in the folds of
her dress.
"Suh!" she cried, in passion of in
dignation which was splendid and ter
rible. "This must stop! If NAH false
friends lack the chivalry to protect
me and NAH good name, Ah'll defend
mahself, subj"
Chester half rose, as If to throw him
self into the hopeless contest.
"The defendant does not under
stand" said the Judge. "The defend
ant will resume her seat! The evil
dence tends to prove that"
| But the decision was never finished;
for the girl drew a short small pistol
and aimed at him. We were frozen In
horror. Judge Worthington looked un-
waveringly into the muzzle. .
roberta" said he.
I then saw rush by Captain Win
field to strike her arm; the pistol
roared out in the court room like a
cannon; and as Miss Frayn sank back
into my mothers arms, Judge Worth
ington stepped down with rent across
his shoulder, from which he withdrew
his fingers stained red. From under
the table, where irresistible force had
thrown me. saw him take an unre-
sisting hand, and heard him whisper
to her. ...
Darling" said he. "You don't I'M
derstand! Let me explain, sweetheart,
and then if you want the pistol back,
I'll give it to you, loaded!'
Then he stood up and took COM
mand
"The bailiff," said he, Twill remove
the defendant and Mrs. Boggs to my
chambers. | shall investigate this in
camera. l am not hurt, gentlemen,
more than pins prick, and am able
to go on and take such measures as
are necessary to protect the court.
Remain here until resume the trial."
"I can tell you," said Middlekauff,
| well crawl out where we went in
Nobody can stand ag'in her at clus
range like that!"
Captain Winfield's face bore a puz-
zled and mysterious smile as he
emerged from the chambers.
"You can't subdue these southern
ers, o." said he. ...
"The verdict of history" said l, "is
otherwise"
1--WE just reconstructed and abb
sorbed EN-" said he. 81 was there, an
/ know. The judge thinks we've got
to handle this Frayn invasion the
same way"
"I fail to get your meaning" said L.
"The way to absorb this rebel host"
said the captain, sis to marry 1t. It's
the only way to ground her wire and
demagnetize her. / can't undertake
the job, for reasons known to all.
You're sort of responsible for her de-
vastatin' course, an think it'll cipher
itself down to Oscar Boggs as a
bridegroom for the good Of Teal Lake
Township and the welfare of the
Boggs School" - ..
My emotions were tumultuous. NO
such marriage could be forced on me,
of course; but duty, duty! ..-.
"On the main point" said the cap
tain, "the court had it's mind made up
when came out This marryin' has
got to be did. Who's to do it is what
they're figgerin' on"
Captain Winfield" said I, eff the
public interests require it, If my con-
/ stituents demand it, l will make the
sacrifice!
"Oc," said the captain, in a properly
serious manner, though some Uttered,
you're Twin marvel! I'll go back
and report"
Almost Immediately, as my heart
| beats stifled me, they emerged from
the chamber My mother was In tears,
Worthington bore Miss Frayn on his
arm, and both looked exaltedly happy
/ Roberta, as called her in my
thoughts, shrank back bashfully, more
beautiful than had ever seen her. 1t
was a great, momentous hour for me.
I felt that | had settled the case.