The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1921-03-31
THE MARK OF CAIN
Copyright, 1917. by ]. b. LlDp,aeoss Co.

detrimental to his client? There
could be no other reason, and
| yet what could the boy know
IIoyt had said he was a bright
boy, so he must be afraid of that
brightness. And yet-this point
must be well considerable
might well be, if the boy were
really an abandoned liar, that
Hoyt feared only the falsehoods
he could make up, and which
might be adverse to Landon S in
terests even though untrue.
And SO in spite of Hoyts pro
tests-indeed, really because of
them-Whiting insisted on ques-
tioning the boy.
The first questions put to him
were of little interest, but when
Fibsy, in his dramatic way, an
nounced the finding Of a button
on the scene of the crime, Whit
ing pricked up his ears. Could
it be a button Of Landon s cloth
ing? Could it be tcaced to the
prisoners
" What kind of button?'' he
asked the lad.
"A-a sus-sus-sus-shoe but
tonI'
The final word came out in q
burst Of emphasis, and Fibs1'
raised a defiant, determined face
as if expecting opposition. And
he got it!
Now, 1 protest" said Judge
IIoyt, and he was actually laugh
ing; this mendacious youth told
me about that button some time
ago; only then he said it was
suspender button Didn't You
Fibsy?"
-" Yep" was the splky reply
and came near calm it that
this time, too!''
+" Well, why not? or why not
coat button?'
''That IS itH' and Fibsy' eyes
sparkled; it was a coat button
| remember now! 1t was coat
button!
Hoyt laughed out in triumph,
. And tomorrow it will be
waistcoat button" he said;
land the day after sleeve but
toni"
Yep said Fibsy staring at
him; yep, most prob 'ly! Any
way, it's a clue, that's what it
is!'
The audience shook with
laughter. The funny shock head
ed boy was out Of place in this
serious affair, but he was there,
and his comical face was ire
slstibly humorous.
But Judge Hoyt was solemn
enough now
Send away that boy!' he
said sternly is this matter to
be made burlesque on the lawY
a comic opera of Trial by Jury?'
Order him out, Ayice; III see
MIN later.
And Fibsy was ordered out.
No one could take seriously the
sort Of talk he had treated them
to.
But the boy was not covered
with confusion. Nor did he even
appear chagrined at his misbe-
havior. He looked thoughtful
and wondering. He gazed at
Hoyt with an unseeing, almost
uncanny stare. He walked to
the door, and as he left the room
he exploded his breath in deep
toned "Gee!''
Whiting looked after the boy
a little uncertainty. Hoyt looked
at Whiting.
But the prosecuting attorney
could see no reason to recall the
lad, and though he felt there was
something going on he couldn't
ramon, ne could get no gllmmer
of an idea as to It's nature.
Judge Hoyt smiled, and try as
he would Whiting could not dis
Germ the meaning or intent of
that smile.
Fleming Stone remained, after
the others left, for a talk with
Avice.
None of them recognized
me-" he said. tive not been in.
New York for year or more,
and though I have seen Judge
Hoyt before, we were not person
ally acquainted.
The judge is doing his best, :"
said Avice YEARLY, but he is
very fearful Of the outcome. It
is strange there is so much cir.
cumstantial evidence against Mr..