Gunnison news-champion., 1914-10-09
cHAPTER r XXI
The Jary ofFoar.

ihe " falidstiis sal WalLiHg ana won
dering They had beeH sent Tor and
they had deigued to respond. much %
their 0Wu surprise. Redmond Wrau-
dali occupied a place al the head OF
the library table. At bis right sat his
wife. Vivian and Leslie. by direction.
took seats at the side OF the long table.
which had been cleared OF its mass of
books and magazines Lawyer Car
roll vas al the other end Of the table.
perceptibly nervous and anxious. Het.
~ sat little apart from the others,
rather forlOrn. detached member of the
conclaye Brandon Booth. pale-faced
and alert. drew up a chair alongside
Carroll facing Sara who alone re
mained standing, directly opposite the
four Wrandalls
Not one Of the Wrandalls knew why
they. as a family. we're there. They
had not the slightest premonition of
what was to come.
The Wrandalls had been routed
from their comfortable freside-for
what? They were asking the question
of themselves and they we're waiting
SloIlig iO1 lHe answer.
1T is very stuffy in here" Vivian
had said with a glance at the closed
doors after Sara had successfully
placed her jury in the box
Keep still, Viv," whispered Leslie,
with fine assumption of awe. It's a
spiritualistie meeting. You'll scare
the spooks away"
IL was at this juncture that Sara
rose from her chair and faced them,
as calmly, as complacently as if she
were about to ask them to proceed to
the dining room instead of TO throw a
bomb into their midst that would shat
ter their SNUG serenity for all time to
come. With a glance at Mr.. Carroll
she began, clearly firmly and without
a PREDATORY apology for what was to
follow.
i have asked you TO come here to-
night TO be my judges. am on trial.
You are about to hear the story of my
unspeakable perfdy | only require of
you that you hear me TO the end be
fore passing Judgment"
AT her words, Hetty and Booth start
ed peroeptibly, a quick glance passed
between them, as If each was inquir-
ing whether the other had caught the
extraordinary words OF self-indictment.
A puzzled frown appeared on Hetty's
brow.
'Perfdy9" interposed Mr. Wrandan.
His Wife's expression changed from
one Of bored Indifference to sharp in
quiry. Leslie paused in the act of
lighting a cigarette.
1T is the mildest term | can com
mar :, J." said Sara. L shall be as brief
as possible in stating the case, Mr..
Nrandal. You viii be surprised TO
hear that I have taken it upon myself.
as the wife Of Challis WrandaH and.
as ] regard il, the one most vita.ly
concerned if not interested in the dis
cuvery and punishment Of the person
who took his life-I say ! have taken
it upon myself to shield. protect and
defend the unhappy young woman who
accompanied him to Burtou's inn on
that night in March. She has had my
constant, my personal protection for
more than twenty months
ne W laAAalls leaned forward I'M
their chairs. The match burned Les
lies fingers. and he dropped it without
appearing to notice the pain.
What is this you are sayingg" de-
manded Redmond Wrandau
When / left ti.e iuE that night after
seeing my husbands body in the little
upstairs room, I said to myself thar
the one who took his life had unwlt-
tLEgly done me a service He was my
husband. loved him. adored him
To the end OF my days / could have
gone on loving MIN in spite of the
cruel return he gave for my love and
loyalty I shah not attempt to tel
you OF the countless lapses OF fidelity
on his part You would not believe me
But he always came back TO me with
the pitiful love he had for ne. and I
fo-Eaye him his transgre sfrrs. These
things you know. He confessed many
things 70 you, Mr.. Wrsudau He
huub'ed himself TO ne. Perhaps Won
viii recall that never couplained To