Evening star., 1921-03-06

humor how Oliver Admission. the once
popular author of thrillers. absent
mindedly dropped his eyeglasses into
a mailbox instead of Il letter, render
ing himself visually helpless until a
postman appeared and PERMITTED the
author to paw among the letters for
his lenses.
They never come back muttered
the deputy commissioner with con-
viction as he noted this silly item.
More and more. as the days dragged
on without incident, the police official
regretted having exposed his own
fallibility to the extinct author in the
vain hope of some super-normal help.
= x i; x
1sTNHE state rests"
Fielder, the district attorney.
cused, and as he sat down he NUT
tered under his breath in a tone that
carried only to that mans ears:
God help you. 1 have done what
1 could. Facts are facts
Parr sat back in his chair, his arms
folded across his chest. looking glum
Judge and jury turned expectantly to
Ballard famous barrister. who had
stepped into the case at the last min
ute During the presentation of the
states evidence against his client
Ballard had INDUCED only in formali-
ties; in several incidents it seemed
that he went to extraordinary lengths
in inducing witnesses to emphasize
the damning facts of their testimony.
Make plea We will accept any
thing in reason" muttered the district
attorney urtier his breath Ballard
| turned on him look of slow aston
ishmcnt. and indicated the placid lit
tie figure of the prisoner with a slight
| nod. as who should say: Can you
| imagine such man as that accepting
a mitigation of the charge"
Ballard rose to his feet, stood for a
| long time surveying the jury. whose
appetite had been whetted for one of
the great forensic addresses for which
/ this man was famous. The master of
sheer oratory, that curious species of
hypnotism by which one man molds
the ind of a mob, said only:
The defense will call only one wit
ness in refutation.''
little thrill ran through the room.
Ballard looked at his watch and
stepped to the bench. where he con-
suited in low tones with the court
and the prosecutor, and brief recess
was declared. Courtroom and jury
box, held in vague suspense, waited
the scene wore than tension of dra-
! matte action momentarily halted. The
first interruption was the entrance,
, y o.
iston: he dropped into A seat beside
| Ballard, giving the inquiring deputy
scant nod. Parr noted with surprise
that the extinct author sported a
badly swollen eye. The green doors
opened a second time. and two court
officers appeared, followed by a mid
dIe-aged man, evidently d person of
some position in life. He looked
neither to right nor left. as he came
down the aisle and stoldly took his
place in the witness chair AS the
court was called to order again. Then
he glanced around stiffiy, and when
he encountered the face of Dean Pet
tibone, his eyes fingered there for
moment.
Your name?" said Ballard.
The witness wet, his lips.
Hillary Jerome Swett.'
Your >occupation?"
II am an inventor" said the man,
locking curiously over the jury.
DO you know the defendant. Mr.
Swett?" pursued Ballard
The witness nodded. and turned his
gaze again on Pettibone.
When did you last see himo'
In 1912" said the witness, without
hesitation. I'm the federal court"
What was the occasion:"
"A patent suit, responded SWEET
acdly. His eyes, IS if drawn by fas-
cination, again sought the prisoners
face.
You were an interested party?
Il was the PLAINTIFF"
And Dean Petitioner"
"He was called to give expert tes-
timony." The man drew deep
breath, and the whole room hitched
forward in it's seats.
What was the outcome of the suit.
Mr. SWEET"
Il lost-my case was thrown out of
| court" The words were SO low as to
be hardly audible. Ballard moved slow
ly back and forth before the wit
ness.
Was the expert testimony RESPONSE
BILE for the verdict" he asked finally.
Yes he said; the witness seemed
now to have thoroughly recovered his
composure. "Wholly." he added
Ballard picked up one of the ex-
hibits on the table and examined it
absently for moment. Then he raised
his eyes to the witness and asked
with great gravity:
care your teeth entire. Mr.. Swett?"
The effect of this question was like
| a pistol shot. The dean. the prose-
cutor, even the court, exclaimed aud
IDLY. The witness started violently: