The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-03-14
Daily Short Story
A POLICE COURT PoRTIA.

reluctant reply TO the steady strpam
OF extracts his wife a issuing from
TIE little pile Of letters beside her
You didn't volunteer any inforna-
ton In regard to that communication
on top. he said grrly as ne turned
TO the editorial PAGE % hss newspaper.
1t must be a bill"
b raised her eyes serenely. and
handed him the document.
Yes. it's a bin. My hat. You had
o-tter brlng-me a check for the
amS1nt when you come home to-
lie gazed at her fearfully.
is this the bargain you were tell.
Ing me about"
-oh. no." she replied with superior
cndescenSion "That'S another one.
It's really wonderful how they can sell
a pattern hat so cheap at this time OF
ne year! n explained. waxing en-
tn~lslastic ever the subject. The
But her husband was returning 70
ms paper with some ostentation. and
ne realized that his legal mind de
cnned 10 follow so trivial a subject.
After he had left the house. Mrs.
Jaggart received a morning visit from
a gushing young woman who was al
present going in extensively for liter
aure aud oratory.
"Ob. Mrs. Jaggart," she exclaimed
enusiyely. 1t must, be ideal to spend
your life with such a great Drained
man az your husband is,"
Well. ! don't know" replied Mrs.
Jaggert, dcub;fully. recalling the mil
hnery than'c. "Ie is not always re-
sponsive."
Il suppose hat Is when he is alb
soroed in SOME great case and can't
come down 20 ordinary things" sug-
gested the caller.
"of course you go frequently to
listen TO his wonderful arguments"
NO; l have never been in a court
room" admitted Mrs. Jaggart. Law
subjects seem d~readfully tiresome TO
me-. William says they do to him.
too"
What, You never heard one Of his
famous sgeeehs,n exclaimed the
is simply crowded aScn he makes an
argument. Even the judge is fasci-
mated, and he capiivates a Jury al
ways. ] heard n great judge say that
usually an eloquent lawyer was good
for nothing but his oratory. but that
Mr.. Jaggart was wonderful on cor
nering a witness on cross-examina-
tion-that no one could elude him. %
II cam" ruminated the great mans
spouse thoughtfully.
She found new food for reflection
In her guests dissertion. She was
slightly ashamed OF the fact that she
hdu never LtdIu one OF neT Danl =
clever arguments. She knew in n
vague way that he was well Informed
inc that he vas successful; but was
he so distinguished as her guest had
said, and was she-his wife-alone
ignorant OF his true value?
Mrs. Jaggart ever acted on impulse.
and her impulse always prompted di-
rect action. When she had finished
sizing up her husbands greatness
from a distance and from other peo-
pies standpoints. she donned her
wraps and went TO the court house.
She knew In a vague way hat IL
was the time of yea when cases were
tried. and Is her husband was prose
cutting attorney. of course he would be
IN court. IL CHANGED to be a day when
the calendar was unimportant. and
there were scarcely any spectators in
the room.
Jaggart's expression of amazement
when he saw his wife enter gave way
to n OF apprehension.
Has the furnace fire zone out. the
kitten had a nj, or the wafer pipe
burst2" he wondered.
She said something TO an attendant.
who stood near the entrance. and he
o~bsequiously led her up TO the inner
circle, reserved for brethren OF the
court and distinguished visitors.
What Is IL. Georgie?" asked jag
CART anXiously. as he came up 10 her.
Il Just wanted TO visit court. and
hear you try. a case" she explained.
amused.
There's hardly any case on the cal
endar worth hearing" he remarked.
Let me see. oh. yes. there Is a poor
devil up for petty larceny. a sort OF
tramp who is accused OF stealing from
who's his lawyer"
He hasn't IN Probably some
young. newly fedged graduate will
! volunteer for the sak OF experience.
Let me see" His eye ran quickly
over the room. Yes. there's young
Colby. Hell probably donate his
"Oh, Fred Colby" she exclaimed.
eager and interested. "He PLAYS an
elegant game of golf. hope he'll
win. You ought to let him-to encour-
age him and give him a start"
Jaggart laughed.
ITS n very clear case. 7 guess Colby
won't expect TO win. or hardly try.
except to make an effort for forms
sake
What a farce" she exclaimed.
Again Jaggart laughed and walked
away TO repeat her protest 20 the
judge. who grinncd appreciatefvlv.
The case was called. The People
vs.. Tate. The prisoner was brought
In and Mrs. ~Jaggart's interest and
sympathy went ont TO him AT once.
because OF his shabby. unkept look
there was something sort Of boy
ishness In his face that made her
heart ycarn 10 him. She felt sure
she had seen him before somewhere.
but her erring memory failed to To-
cate when and where.
As JaErart had predicted. Colby
volunteered his services and Der.
formed his part ~perfunctoriiy. Teh
People had n seemingly clear caeol
even n they had not. the Judge. iurv.
Colby and the prisoner knew that
the People would win. because jag
cart had never lost n case.
Whom the prosecution had 90 tight.
" Coiled he discriminating evidence
about the prisoner that eNtrication
seemed impossible. tho prisoners
counsel arose lie called his soia
witness. q awkward countrv
lad. who had come 10 town in search
Of work and who had put M AZ the
same cheap lodging house as had the
prisoner After n few questions. oe.
tensihly TO put him at his ease. Colby
won from him testimony that was
decidedly favorable 20 the prisoner.
The slow manncr and tho open. hon
est face Of n youth made obviously
"a good impression upon tho Jury.
but Colby. and. In fact. every one
|mmHn the NHWINrmM m.HHwaMm HH.- a.