The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-11-02
BUTTINGIN
 BY PERRY NEWBERRY
CHAPTER. XI (Continued)
 Sn SiY1nnIe

any at tomorrow's primary he said l finally.
 1 Not as they've printed it. no. | They haven't given him any credit 1 for his fighting abilities Only a few 1 of the fans will remember Battling Lewis. But it isn't too late for the 1 Sentinel to spread his record.' His prize-ring record ?" Sure. This city is no old ladies home and most Of the voters have red blood in their veins. When you first | sprung this poet idea on me, I told | you I wasn't in sympathy with 1t. I'm willing to admit it's origina I and un.uue drawing qualities, but you'd have all that and then some with a pugilist. I was going to tell you at he time but you shut me up. Now you've got a poet and a prize-fighter and we win. That's alive win.' Burts wasn't so easily convinced, hut he realied that the only thing to do to offset the Republics story was to give the voting public full nforma- ton as to what Rutt-In or Battling Lewis had done in the ring, and make him as much of nero as he could
 So he called up the Sentinel. and had them get their sporting editor busy, and we went down to Brunt's court to meet the candidate to be.
 Trrdge Moves, with Hassler and Blake, was waiting for us in the cor ridor before ths courtroom door, and we pulled over into a corner to dis cuss this last phase of the political situation.
 Moves was bubbIing with glee; he had made Butt-In out as a paragon before he ever met him. and this agreed fully with his competition, es pecially after I had told him of some of Batiing's battles.
 Brains and brawn," he declared. "A quick head, a quick eye, and a quick fist-that's Bolton. He'll make some mayor for this gleeful old burg"
 Where the deuce is he?" asked Burts, and we all looked at our watches.
 Lots of time yet" insisted the judge.
 T made it thirty seconds I put in.
 'Nnwenty eight. Lots of time," said Moves, closing his old fashioned time piece. He'll get here on the fifth stroke of the big clock"
 He didn't, nor on the last stroke, nor afterward. We watched the front doors with rapidly increasing anxiety and apprehension
 Hes blown up,' I said finally.
 And we're sixty miles from Red wood and the case being called right now,'' said Blake. ''I see myself in the cell next to Burts for contempt of court.''
 '+shucks'' cried Judge Moves. Give the lad a chance. He'll enter the ring with his bath-rohe off in @ jif- fy.''
 Hadn't we better telephone Red wood and jump my machine down the peninsula % suggested blind Burts after another sixty seconds.
 That's best. I'll phone the courtf that we've had an accident cried Blake. We can be there in an hour and a half"
 ''very we'll" Judge Moves gave in grudgingly, looking again at his watch and Blake started away just as the courtroom door opened and a bailiff poked his head out into the corrid or.
 Case of the People against Theo- dore Burts!" he cried. Witnesses into court!"
 We all stood like mummies. Blake, who was by this time halfway down with his mouth hanging open.
 People against Burts'' repeated the bailiff, and headed by Judge Moves, the five of us filed into court.
 When you are to be tried for B crime in an adjoining county, in a court some sixty miles away, after having vainly tried for change of venue, then find your case being call ed in your old friend Judge Brunt's court, in the Hall of Justice in your own town, you'll understand why Burts's blind eyes were bulging out and the rest of us open-mouthed as we took our seats and listened to the clerk read the complaint of libel against the owner of the Sentinel.
 Are you rettdy for trlal?" asked the judge quietly.
 A sprig of a deputy from the dis trict attorneys office popped to his feet
 Ready for the prosecution your honor." he said.
 fudge Moves arose more slowly, still under the numbing effect of shock.
 Ready, if the court please" he rnudnbled.
 'tCan the first witness" ordered his honor.
 william Edson Bolton is the com claiming witness" said the deputy l attorney, looking about the room | Then to the bailiff; Call him in the | hall.'
 I saw 2 rare smile come over the | face of Moves as the batliffs voice l rang out through the corridor: 1
 William Edson Bolton. Bolton. 1 Bolton, Butt-In Bolton. Come into | court.'
 I glanced at Blake and Hass1er, | but puzzlement still plotted out any | semblance of intelligence on their | countenances, Noye's smile spread to 1 2 grin. He put a hand on Burtse's l shoulder and gave him a pinch, and | Burts grinnned in answer:
 The witness seems to be missing" remarked the States Attorney. "He | was to have been here at ten"
 SWhaf Wa ha fn ed Moves.
 T wish him to identify the article which we claim is libelous.''
 He held up a copy of the Sentinel.
 We will admit the identity of the article." quickly from Moves.
 Next witness.' said the court.
 There are none. That is the case 5or the People. We introduce as evil fence this copy of the Sentinel which
 have mafked Exhibit A and which S admitted by the defense as identi- l al with the article in the com plaint |