The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-08


healthy for us to parade" said
Callaghan, grimly. Joan MOI
tisfont will go under, but l can
see us going with her."
II own to having the same feel
Ing myself" muttered Vaille.
II confess now" said Gala
CHAN, "that I wish had taken
your warning and left it alone.
Mottisfont is busy. There is
quest after you and Bell. 1t has
become so serious that for
fortnight past, by my orders,
both of you have had to lie alb
Solutely perdu-I cannot risk your
showing yourselves to the light OF
day. We have had to leave our
headquarters, that are no longer
safe. A nuisance, but you must
nut up with It till after the trial,
which begins tomorrow-then we
shall have to make fresh DISPOSE
tons. L alone am FIRE and un-
suspected. So is Drummond. And
here, by the way, he comes.
Drummond Joined the pair, look
ing unusually haggard and anx-
ious. He nodded sullenly to the
chief.
Agnes" he said, Twill take her
place in the witness box at the
New Bailey tomorrow! She is her
self again--or as near as she ever
will be. / hear, Callaghan, that
you do not believe Joan Motifs
font is guilty.
''Let us avoid empty threats"
said Callaghan calmly; you know
my views, you know that l nave
had no hand in it!'
"They have subpoenaed me as
a witness, too" muttered Drum
mond. 81 have obeyed your sum
mons. but / think / was fool
to come here 1t is dangerous.
you are quite SAFE" replied
Callaghan, ''but this will be our
last meeting for some time. 1t
was necessary that should give
you a final word.
He repeated to Drummond the
warning he had given Vaille ana
added some instructions to which
the young man listened attentive
ly. At.the end Drummond moved
nearer to him.
what l cannot understand,
CaIlaghan," he said, lis the speed
with which this thing has come
to q head! See here. The magis-
terial inquiry occupied two days,
the defense was reserved ana
Joan Mottisfont committed for
trial to the New Bailey sessions.
Tomorrow the trial opens!
Only a fortnight after the crime
Mottisfont is to defend his own
wife. Neither he nor his sollc-
itors have applied for a postpone
ment or any delay. This, SAID
Drunlrnond ominously, looks as
L. T. III
sleeves and is confident of the
ISSUE
Callaghan shook his head.
at myself saw Mottisfont yes
terday with my own eyes," he
said quietly. ct was never mis-
taken yet, and can read the
man like ~ ar book, inscfutable
though the world thinks him.
Mottisfont knows that his wife
is doomedp'~, zi5sy2nse 80
The chief rose.
Tomorrow the last scene in
the drama opens!' he said, land
though there is danger, when the
curtain falls / believe we shall
have come through it safely.
A last drink, gentlemen, to our
SUGGEST
slFor one thing-for one deter
mining factor-we can thank our
stars" said Vaille impressively.
what is that?"
Vaille emptied his glass.
''That Slim, JIM" he said, els
on the high seas!'
CHAPTER LXXXVIu.
In the Dock
Look" said the stout specta-
tor. in the gallery of the New
Bailey, nudging his companion,
''there she is. They're bringin'
her up the dock stairs now!'
"Ain't she pale.' said the COM
panion,, craning his long neck
eagerly over the gallery. $50
that's Joan Tallbois-Joan Mot
tisfont--is it2 wouldn't ha'
missed this for something. Bob!
Which of ems Mottisfont?"
"There-that long chap sittin'
at the barristers' table with his
chin in his hand"
Hes pale, too, amt he!' said
the companion. with intense
relish.
you'd look pale if you had to
go through what them two have -
replied his friend, and then, lick
ing his lips, he added: Its such
O case as don't happen in a hun.
dred years-a husband defendin'
his own wife for poisonin' her
half-sister-an' mind you, he'll
be lucky If he don't get tripped
up HIMSELF There's plenty that
wonders he amt been arrested
already"
'Silence in court?'
The New Bailey was packed
tight as its four walls would
hold; the crowd of those disap
pointed of admittance throngcd
the very street without. Mr.
Justice Judd. heavy of body but
keen-eyed, stared out from the
tall chair beneath the royal arms
and rolled bits Of paper into little
pills, as his invariahle habit was
Joan, the slim, dark.clad figure
in the dock, sat motionless while
the registrar read out the charge
That she, Joan Mottisfont, did ad
minister poison to Agnes Tall
bois. commonly known as Viscoun
tess Tallbois of Knayth, with in
tent to murder. The question
rang deliberately across the court
house and Joan made answer
quietly.
mot guilty"
The crown counsel, Sir Charlie,
Craik, X. c., rose to open tn,
case. He was short, stout ant
buIl-necked, his eye fixed ant
fierce as the eye of a pike
Philip Mottisfont directed on;
thoughtful glance at him an,
then sat listening his head vaSt