The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-02-03
Chapter "a
PETE'S EVIDENCE

First the le-then the proof of the
lie,
sat there too frightened to think
clearly. What was to happen? l had
always been taught to believe that a
lie under any circumstances was an I'M
pardonable wrong-and here l was
listening to the proof of untruthfulness
from the man who wanted to marry my
niece--to marry the most precious
member of my family.
After all, the fact that he had not
told us of his debts did not matter so
much-that was forgivable. But who,
in this unsympathetic crowd of men,
would overlook the lie about meeting
Pete on the street? 1t was so easy to
say that if this one statement was
wrong, all his evidence was false. And
then what?
looked over at Francis, whose pro-
file was towards me. / fancied he had
that curious hard expression. But
could not tell, for the room was bright
ly lit at one end only, and there were
too many shadows.
He asked for $1O?" The lawyers
voice never changed a note.
Yes, sir Buds voice shook a
trifle. He knew now what he had
said.
$50 you did see him on the street,"
Yes sir" The boys voice was
weak now. Bud was thoroughly fright
ened.
You denied that little while ago."
Yes Sir"
Why"
Il didn't want to drag Pete in"
Very considerate Of"
There was an impatient movement
from the man at the large desk-the
gray haired man in the uniform with
the braid, whom | took to be a sort of
Judge. Evidently he wanted to get
through the proceedings as fast as
possible-and who could blame him.,
for it was Christmas night?-and was
not going to tolerate even one unnec-
eSsary sarcastic remark.
That at least was in our favor. The
lawyer broke his sentence in the mid
ole, turned to the judge and remarked:
You see, this young mans evidence
is not always reliable. That is all for
the time"
A uniformed man came up to Bud
and motioned him to get down. | felt
a wave of relief go over me. For the
moment, at least, Bud was out of this
torture.
He came down, and sat in one of the
chairs, little distance from me. He
turned to look at Frincis-but Francis
kept his back to him. And that fright
ened me thoroughly.
Francis was displeased, Could l
blame him? He was spending money,
more important than that-he was
spending money, more important than
that--he was spending time. to defend
this boy, and the boy had so far not
justified his faith in him. Suppose he
should drop the case now What would
happen to Bud then?
The boy was thinking that, too. for
his face was white as he sat there,
head dropped forward, shoulders de-
jected, occasionally wiping his face
with his handkerchief. eas ...-
turned back to watch this little
drama. Someone had come through
the door and was being given the oath
on the witness stand. l stared in sur
prise then--for it was Pete.
The lawyer was reading from a
paper.
THE prisoner in his latest testimony
admitted having taken some thousands
of dollars from his firm, by changing
the figures on the bank book when he
deposited the firms money. Later he
by speculation, made enough to put
this back. He again changed some
figures in the bank book. so the cash
Ter of the firm was not suspicious
However, when accountants, going
over the books, checked this up with
the banks statement, they found, not
an error in cash, since the money was
put back, but an error in dates, show
ing deposits at separate times, when
there should have been but one de
posit The messenger was watched
he looked over at Pete-"and was fin
ally caught when he tried this game q
second time. The second time the
money was not paid back. The prison
er said he meant to do So
A lot of questions followed, much
like the ones asked Bud. They brought
out the fact that Pete had bought q
car and the amount of money he haG
been spending on what the little
lawyer chose to call "riotous living.
They found out the amount of money
Pete was in debt, and the names OF
all his companions.
There was something admirable
about Pete, after all. Whatever quail
ties he lacked, there was a sterling