Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-02-17
CHAPTER XVII.
THE VERDICT.

Goldherger paused at the stair head
and looked at me, an ~ironical light in
his eyes. l knew he suspected that
Miss Vaughan's story of the %handker-
chief was no great surprise to me.
Well he asked. will you wish to
put her on the stand?"
shook my head and started down
the stairs, for was far from desiring
an argument just then, but he stopped
me, with a hand upon the sleeve.
You realize, MIR. Lester" he said,
more seriously. that it is plaialy NV
duty TO SWANS arrest?''
Yes" ] assented. II realize that.
Under the circumstances, you can do
nothing else"
He nodded, and we went downstairs
together. | saw SWANS eager eyes
upon as as we came out upon the
lawn, and his lips We're at my ear the
instant had taken my seat.
"Well?' he whispered.
She cannot help YOU" ] said. / did
not think ii necessary to say how deep
ly she would hurt him when her testi-
monN was called for in open court. as.
of course, it would be.
stand?"
No. l answered. and he sank back
with a sigh of relief. Then sometime
IN my face seemed to catch his eye,
for he leaned forward again. You
don't mean that she believes | did il ~"
he demanded hoarsely.
OF, no.. l FASTENED to assure him:
she says such an accusation is alb
surd: she was greatly overcome when
she learned that you were even sus-
, pected: she said. -"
But the coroner raped for order,
Have you any other evidence to in
trduce. Mr.. LESTER he asked.
No. Nour honor" answered. and l
co ny fln rIp,,J ,r L. -. -, 4
fell upon the faces of reporters and
photographers. To have been able to
feature Miss Vaughan would have
meant an extra column. | could also
see. from the expression on the faces
of the jury. that my failure to put her
on the stand made an unfaVorable i'm
preston. There was, indeed, only one
inference to draw from it.
Goldberger turned aside for a few
words with the prosecutor. and | Sus-
pected that he was telling him of Miss
V~aughan's discovery of the blood
stained handkerchief; but there was no
way To get the story before the jury
without calling her. They seemed to
agree, at last, that they had evidence
enough. for the jury was instructed to
prepare its verdict. It's members with
drew a little distance under the trees.
ana gathered into q group to talk 1t
Ner.
l watched them for a moment. and
then | turned to Swain.
Il suppose you know" | said. that
they're certain to find against you?
e If they don't, the district attor-
ney Will cause our arrest right away
He nodded.
I'm not worrying about that. I'm
worrying about Miss Vaughan. You
Won't forget your promise2"
No
Shell have no one but you" he went
on rapidly. Neither will /. You must
not fail us!"
Il skan't,' | promised. But you'd
better think about yourself a little,
SWAIN
Plenty Of time for that when I'm
sure Marjorie's safe. The minute YOU
tell me she's at the Royces', I'll begin
TO think about myself. Pm not afraid.
] didn't kill that man. No jury would
convict me"
I might have told him that convic-
tons are founded on evidence, and that
the evidence in this case was certainly
against him., but / thought it better to
hold my peace. The more confident
he was. the less irksome he would find
imprisonment. So ! sat silent until the
members Of the jury filed hack into
their places.
Have you reached a verdict. gentle
men?' the coroner asked, after his
clerk haG polled them.
Yes, your honor" the foreman an
swered.
What is the %verdict?"
The foreman held out a folded paper
and read:
We, the jury in the inquest held this
18th day of June, 1908, intr H1e death