The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1915-01-16

t0e woman NJ aI-u Tar mOic uc''iop'c
end than any surprise at her trial. 1t
was inconceivable that a lawyer OF his
experience would withhold a fact vital
to his client merely for the purpose
of making n brilliant. spectacular de-
Tense. Yet was not this what the
~housekeeper had complained OF in the
interview at the farmhouse! L dis
tinctly remembered hearing her declare
that he could and should have pre-
vented the indictment Of his client
Was he conducting this case in the
manner best calculated to enhance his
professional reputation regardless oil
the defendants highest interest: Was
she merely a pawn in his legal game!
Was this the reason he would not let
his client talk? Why did he want
Madeleine Mapes and Betty Field out
Of the way? Was 1t because their pres
nee would render an acquittal too
easy. and interfere with his plan to
make capital and reputation out of a
seemingly difficult cause? No. They
both knew something about the blue
dress and possibly other matters un
favorable to the defendant. Perhaps
they knew who occupied Miss Emory's
room on Nov. 2. Did Gilbert know 1t
too?
The silent question startled me into
the suspicion that he might be pur-
posely ignoring Miss Frayne's con-
nection with the case. Was he capa-
BILE Of a deliberate injustice to one
woman that he might save another
from d~isagreeable publicity and
dal? The idea no sooner required to
me than / saw its absurdity. He had
every reason to welcome an excuse
for abandoning the Emory case, and
Barbara Frayne had equal reason for
supplying him with all the favorable
information in her possession. Why
had she not told him what she had
told me?
At first / seriously considered the ad-
visibility of reporting all l had heard
to the judge before the reopening of
court, but second thoughts convinced
me that such action was neither neces-
sary nor ~expedient. My experience in
attempting to explain matters had not
been calculated to encourage further
efforts in that direction. His honor
would probably again inquire If l had
formed any unalterable opinion as to
the guilt or innocence Of the accused,
and IL l replied in the negative he
would cut me off without another
word. Miss Frayne's message had not
convinced me of the guilt or innocence
of her friend. In all probability it had
merely given me advance information
of a point which Barstow would bring
out in due season, and if he did not l
could supply the omission at any mo-
ment by calling Miss Barbara to the
stand.
/ had begun by f~ercely ~resenting her
action in forcing her secret upon me.
but on further consideration l found
much in her loyalty to her friend, her
natural impulsiveness and the provok-
ingly mysterious tactics of the lawyers
to excuse her conduct, and l dwelt
upon this line of argument with such
effect that / ended with something like
a keen appreciation Of the confidence
repOSed in me.
moved forward more rapidly and
with a lighter step as / reached this
point in my reflections and almost im-
mediately bumped into a nan walking
in the opposite direction. /.
II beg your pardon" l began
Its entirely my fault, Mr.. Lambert.
l was walking OIL the wrong side Of the
road, and I'm glad you ran into me. for
you're the very person | most wanted
to see." lg
l peered at the speaker; but, though
his voice was familiar, / did not rec
ognize his face.
"You do not remember me. l see,"
he remarked smilingly as he noted my
puzzled expression.
"It's very dark in the lane here l
temporized, land, though / recognize
your voice. I'm afraid l cannot at the
moment recall YOU"
tThat's not at all surprising. Mr..
Lambert" he responded pleasantly.
pray don't apologize. I'm one of Mr..
Gilbert's assistants, ana l thought per-
haps you might have noticed mt in
court"
l stared closely at the young man,
and, although it was too dark under
the trees to get a good view, l thought
l should have remembered his face if
l had ever seen it before. 1t suggest
ed a fox with fiattened ears, and eyes
continually glancing backward "a
crafty. timid, unreliable face belying
the mans voice and manner. which
were unusually agreeable.
.What can l do for Mr.. Gilbert's as
s~istant" / inquired coldly, for l had
no desire to extend my acquaintance
with the gentleman.
Nothing for me, Mr.. Lambert" he
responded affably. II am merely Mr..
Gilbert's messenger in the matter.
which l can explain in a very few
words"
please do So" | replied. moving on
suggestively.