Evening star., 1921-11-27
Counsel for theDefense

|"WAIT uati finish" Achison au-
w thoritatively imposed silence.
"Coombs was the man. i tell you, of
whom Ella Sands stood. in fear. He
had met her first in Paris, and be-
coming infatuated with her. was her
accomplice in various thefts. Nat
rally he fell in with her friends,
and thorough paced lot of scoun-
drels they were, imagine. One Of
the big fellows used him to pull off
the burglary OF a large house in Lon
don, and knowing Of this, Ella, who
and wanted him out of the way, gave
information that resulted in, his con-
viction and "A seven-years' term in
Dartmouth. He came to this coun-
try seeking her. and -,
"And. of course arranged it so that
should sprain my knee" sneered
Ramsey. "and he go to the appoint
ment in my place: probably laid the
banana peel purposely in my path.
Don't YOU think You are stretching
the long arm of coincidence little
far?"
turned Achison. "and Coombs ap-
peared so opportunity on the scene.
he was not playing the protective
watchdog as you SO fondly imagined.
not possibly. have struck the blow
that killed Ella Sands.
for a dismissal of the case against his
client. The Judge, holding. however.
that the matters at issue were prop
erly questions of fact, left 1t to the
jury to decide. But this was hardly
more than a formality. The result
was already assured. The jury had
little more than closed the door OF
the jury room before they returned
with a verdict of acQuittal.
Ramsey, elated as a schoolboy, was
the first to reach Coombs with his
congratulations. and managed clev-
erly to maneuver him through the
crowd and into a waiting taxicab.
why did you never tell me about
that arm?" he exclaimed reproachful-
ly as they drove together up town.
"Ambidextrous as you are. never
even suspected it. And I'll bet, too.
that you dlslocated it when you dived
after me in the subway. I'm going to
see that you have treatment for 1t
right away"
Coombs. who had been looking out
with eager eyes upon a world from
which he had been immured. turned
from his survey of the passing pano-
rama of streets, buildings and people:
and twisted up his face with his old
whimsical expression.
Seems like turning on an old
frieud,' he said. That, arm was
probably what saved me from the
electric chair; so. bad as the pain was
at times. I guess 1t was worth while.
Then, with an abrupt change Of sub
ject. he added: ''Mr. Achison is sure
one wonderful man."
X X **
d AMsEY gave a grudgiug assent
IN to this. and lapsed into silence.
The mention of the lawyer had re-
called to him a note which the latter
had passed across to him in the court
room just after the conclusion of tine
case, reminding him of his promise
to take dinner with him that even
ing, and again he fell to specuiating
A, to what possible reason there could
be for the invitation.
Achison was not the man to DO idIe'
impulsive or inconseQuent things:
and besides. he had been too insistent
in this instance not to have very
distinct and definite motive in view:
Curiosity and conjecture were stiii
seething within him. wnen he met ms
host that evening at the. CLUB whach
AchiSon had named.
The lawyer. looking as fresh as II
he had Eot just finished the conduct
of an eXacting trial. greeted him with
the utmost urbanity. and led the way
to q small table which had been re-
served in a corner of the dining room.
Then, with the zest of true epicure.
he devoted himself to the ordering OF
a fastidiously chosen dinner.
With that off his mind, he showed
himself in the mood for conversation.
The trial was not mentioned, but ne
talked on the topics of the moment
with such knowledge. insight and hu-
NOR that Ramsey was forced to ad-
mire and content to listen. 1t was not
until the coffee was brought that
Ramsey realized his host had not yet
indicated his hand or even shown a
card. He promptly decided TO force
things.
You did a remarkable stunt in
clearing Coombs. Mr.. Achison, and l
am grateful to you"
"-But?" Achison neatly interrupted.
''You are saying that but just as
surely as if your lips uttered it. You
are wondering why 1 asked you to
dine with me. You have been suspect
ing me all through dinner Of trying
to beguile you into friendship. instead
Of remaining, as your youthful and
exotic fancy conceives US. enemies to