Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1924-12-26
CHAPTER xvI-Continued

In the warden's Office she found
George and the district attorney.
Good afternoon, Mrs. Josselyn,"
Ryan said. Ellen, smiling family,
tried to read his rosy, complacent
face. "This is a most extraordinary
turn of events" he said. This little
fellow had the secret up his sleeve all
the time, ehY
Ellen felt almost faint with the re-
vulsion this change in his manner
gave her. Ryan had always been
sharp. suspicious, menacing, before.
She wanted to ask: you believe it,
them" but quick intuition told her
that that must walt So she asked
instead:
Tommy talked, did he? He an
swered your questions?"
HE is an extremely intelligent
child1 Ryan remarked. ''Gave his tes-
timony like little man. Nothing that
we could say could shake him. We
put him, through pretty sharp half
hour He stuck to 1t. II won't deny
that l think this changes the entire
aspect of affairs, Mrs. Josselyn. I've
already advised the sheriff to delay
the-the transfer of Mr.. Josselyn"
"There may be new trial?" Ellen
asked, trembling. For answer Daniel
Ryan smiled at her, and there was
something so kindly, so reassuring, in
that red face, when 1t smiled, that she
felt melting, breaking up of cold
ness and hate, in her heart. Hate
changed suddenly to love, and fear
changed to confidence. Ellen expert
enced the most poignant of all human
emotions.
1--WE may not even have 1t so to
trial" George supplied.
MAY not?' she echoed, choking.
mo" Ryan confirmed it. There Is
no question for jury. I don't know
Of a parallel case" he said thought
fully. But / should suppose that II
would only be necessary to put this
evidence before the court. with suit
able testimony to its genuineness, to
have the whole case dismissed !" He
turned to the warden. MAY we see
Mr.. Josselyn?" he asked, with the
quiet manner of man making re-
quest sure to be granted.
Gibbs, followed by the inevitable
guard, came in, and they turned to
him. His silver crest was as always,
as smooth as satin, but he looked Ill
groomed and haggard; worst of all,
he looked beaten. There were lead
colored circles about his dark, anxious
eyes. and his manner had uncertain
nervous apprehensiveness that was
unlike its old imperial certainty.
"Mr. Josselyn," Ryan said. "has
your wife informed you that we have
found some most important testimony
bearing upon your case?"
"You regard 1t so, Mr.. Ryan" Gibbs
said lifelessly.
II regard 1t as more than import
ant. / regard 1t as so vital that feel
free to congratulate you upon 1t, Mr..
Josselyn, upon miraculous escape
from an error of the law. And
hope to God" Ryan added, shat we
will soon find means to get you out
of here!"
81 thank you" Gibbs answered
briefly But Ellen saw his lip tremble.
"Gibbs-my dear, dear boy!" George
stammered. taking both his hands.
Ellen had quick sensation OF
faintness and nausea. She looked
bravely at George, and smiled waver-
ingly
We've mustn't be too sure"
she stammered. A moment later the
harsh, whltewashed walls and the
rodded doors, the warden's desk. and
the tall. bare windows, vanished She
saw them all blur together, like pic
ture in bubble. and, like the bubble,
suddenly become fiecked with widen
ing black spots. Then everything was
black.