The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-07-13


torturing Mary herself upon the wit
ness-Stand to prove the truth of the
statements of the alienist.
Halfway to his seat, however, he was
arrested by long, low wailing scream
that echoed and thrObbed through the
stone walled corridor.
Twice 1t came-the horrible scream
of woman in mortal agony or in the
throes of delirium. The Judge-halted
midway as he was leaving court
stood as if frozen. and even the prose-
cutor dropped the papers that he held
and stared Mortified at the door to the
prison. which was suddenly flung vio-
lently open. revealing Mary struggling
In the grasp of the baiiff. Her face
was livid. her eyes wide. and her hands
We're clutching. cE,wing and beating at
| the stronger ones that held her. Then
again she screamed and wrenching
LOOSE took two or three lurching steps
forward. painting like one whose breath
is almost spent.
| With a hOarse roar Of excited horror
the spectators sprang to their feet and
surged forward; but Langdon was
quicker than they. and in three strides
was beside her. his arms around her,
calling her name with a poignant agony
that filled the courtroom and echoed
for days in the memory OF those who
heard it.
1t even pierced the mists of delirium
in which Mary's tortured soul was
sunk, and for moment she lay quiet.
supine. in his arms. moaning softly.
In the instant silence which fell over
the room, two voices in the corridor
rose with unexpected shrillness.
| Il didn't mean no HARM cried one
hotly. Il saw the lady was faint like
and thought a bit of liquor would pull
her round. That's all. SO help me
Gawd. and the minute l puts the bot
tie in front of her-it-it happened"
With sudden harshness his honor.
stepping back to the bench. said:
Bring in those men from the hall.
And let everyone in the room be seat
ed Immediately"
Awed by his tone. the spectators
skunk back, while two of the court Of
ficers hurried into the hall. returning
with pair of sheepish policemen. one
of whom was hastily thrusting bottle
of whiskey into his breast pocket.
At the sight Langdon gave cry Of
triumph.
Your honor-that man has a bottle
of whiskey. What is more-he is
drunk-and his presence in the corri-
dor through which the defendant. had
to pass, explains-her, condition. That.
your honor, and gentlemen of the jury.
is surely proof enough of the truth of
the statements made by DIR. FOSTER
The judge. obviously Impressed.
frowned down at the policeman. whose
flushed and unsteady gait made his
condition impossible to disguise.
Were you in the corridor when the
prisoner was led from courtT' he asked
sternly.
/ "Yesh. your honor" stammered the
policeman.
did you speak to her?"
"Yesh shir. I-l-seen she wuz faint
like. and | says. says l. nip will do
'er good. So jhush-offered her bit.
and she screams and flies at me like a
wiz cat"
Al II to illustrate his words he went
towards Mary and gestured as If again
Offering her the bottle. and instantly
that wafling cry rang out again. and.
struggling desperately. Mary twisted
herself In the grip Of the kindly hands
that held her. The grasp OF one bailiff
was indeed too kindly. being no more
than hold upon the thin silk Of her
blouse. and as she twisted the stuff
give way end tore-leaving the white
ness OF her shoulder exposed. At the
sight the prosecutor suddenly gave a
hoarse cry and pointed at It. For there
against the pale satiny tint Ut the skin
lay hideOus bruise-the shadow Of a
mans hand. with Iivid scars where the
nails cut cruelty into the delicate flesh.
ITO be continued