The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1915-05-14

nat tnSfe were OLNST redSOuS-tIHi
the place recalled smother scene of
brutality in which Intention had been
followed by act. | did not then know
1t was sufficient to me then that my
safety was secured by his own guilty
consciousness and the prevaricatious
into which 1t led him. Instead OF
owning up to the encounter he had so
barely. escaped he confined himself to
the simple declaration of having heard
voices somewhere near the bridge
which to all who know the ravine ap
peared impossible under the condi
tions named.
Yet, for all the incongruities and
the failure of his counsel to produce
any definite impression by the prison
er's persistent denial Of having whit
tied the stick or even of having car
ried 1t into Dark Hollow. I expected
verdict in his favor. Indeed, was
so confident of it that | suffered less
during the absence of the jury thai
at any other time. and when they re
turned. with an air of solemn decision
which proclaims unanimity of mind
and a ready verdict. was so prepared
for his acquittal that for the first
time since the opening of the trial |
felt myself a being of flesh and blood
with human sentiments and hopes
And 1t was: Guilty."
When | awoke to a full realization
of what this entailed (for must have
lost consciousness for minute.
though no one seemed to notice). the
one fact staring me in the face was
that 1t would devolve upon me to pro
nounce his sentence: upon me. Archi
bald Ostranders an automaton DO
longer. but man realizing to the
full his part in this miscarriage OF
justice Chaos confronted me. and In
contemplation of it. fell i'll
Somehow. strange as it may appear,
I had thought little of this possibility
previous to this moment. found my
self upon the brink of this new gulf
before the dizziness Of my escape from
the other had fully passed Do you
wonder that I recoiled. sought to gain
time. put off delivering the sentence
from day to day? had sinned-sinned
irredeemably-but there are depths of
infamy beyond which man cannot
go. | had reached that point.
What saved me? A new discovery
and the loving sympathy of my son
Oliver. One night-a momentous one
to me-he came to my room and, clos
ing the door behind him. stood with
his back to 1t. contemplating me In
way that startled me.
What had happened? What lay be-
hind this new and penetrating look.
this anxious and yet persistent man
ner? I dared not think. I dared not
yield to the terror which must follow
thought Terror blanches the cheek
and my cheek must never blanch un
der anybody's scrutiny. Never. never
so long as lived
"Father"-the tone quieted me. for I
knew from its gentleness that he was
hesitating to speak more on his own
account than on mine-'you are not
looking we'll; this thing worries you
hate to see you like this. Is 1t just
the loss of your old friend. or-or-"
He faltered. not knowing how to pro-
ceed.
Sometimes think" he recon-
menced. that you don't feel quite sure
! of this man scoville's guilt. Is that
so? Tell me. father?"
did not know what to make of him
There was no shrinking from me; no
conscious or unconscious accusation
in voice or look. but there was de-
sire to know. and certain latent re
solve behind 1t all that marked the
line between obedient boyhood and
thinking. determining man. With all
my dread-a dread SO great | felt the
first grasp of age upon my heart
strings at that moment recognized
no other course than to meet this in
Quiry Of his with the truth-that is.
with just so much of the truth as was
| needed. No more. not one jot more.
therefore answered, and with show
of self-possession at which I now Won
| der:
"You are not far from right. Oliver
| have had moments Of doubt. The
evidence. as you must have noticed, is
purely circumstantial."
What evidence would satisfy you?
What would you consider a conclusive
proof of guilt?"
told him In the set phrases of
my profession.
Then" he declared az finished.
''you may rest easy as to this mans
right to receive a sentence of death"
could not trust my ears.
'T know from personal observation.
he proceeded. approaching me with a
firm step. that he is not only capable
| of the crime for which he has been
convicted, but that he has actually
committed one under similar circum
stances. and possibly for the same
| end"
And he told me the story of that
! night of storm and bloodshed--a story
| which will be found lying near this,
| in my alcove of shame and contrition
CTO BE CoNTINUEDD