The Washington times., 1927-01-31
READ THISTALE
Of MYSTERY
And Love
CHAPTER I
The Sentence Of the Court

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do You find the prisoner
guilty or not guiltyf"
Guilty. /"
A hush brooded over the
courtroom, ais all eyes were
turned upon the prisoner.
The supreme moment, so
long awaited, had arrived at
last. Yet, the suspense was
not long sustained, for the
verdict was a foregone con
clusion.
Not for many sessions past
had the incidents of d crimi-,
nal trial reused such wide
spread sensation; the story
that had been unfolded was
amazingly dramatic. From
start to finish the court was
crowded. The general feel
ing now was one Of curiosity,
to watch with what emotion,
If any, the prisoner would
hear his fate pronounced.
Despite the infamous nature
of the charge, he had shown
an extraordinary courage
throughout.
The Prisoner
Robert Masterton. the man IN
the dock. scoundrel though he was
proved, was man built on the big
scale. both bodily and mentally.
He was still young, barely SO.
there was unquestionable distinc-
ton in his strong clear4.ut fea-
lures and in the confident noise
o. his head.
Whether he was really hand
some or not was matter Of
opinion. There were women who
thought his face too rugged and
commanding vet be had a wei. 8
shaped sensitive mouth. The main
impression was one 81 Strength
and reliability; ne Locked d man
whom one could trust III was
strange that so attractive IN ex.
terror could shelter 10 crooked q
soul
Guilty. When the tata: word
was spoken. barring out all hope
OF liberty there was certainly a
f1Aaf4t1er f,-an SaIS fhnf4ns1N
not of despair, In the gray eyes
that had been so steady gray
ness too. about thA firm '.rs. Bu'
he made no movement File had
courage still, whatever else he
might lack.
The DOubter
One spectator in the crowd, an
old a very old man with white
hair and face of sphinx-like i'm
passiveness, strangely reminiscent
OF the prisoners own features,
leaned forward to hear the SEN
tence. This was Elijah P. Witt,
q figure equally well known in
America and England and GER
tainly by very long measure the
wealthiest man then sitting in the
courtroom. Moreover. he was prob
ably the only man present who.
in defiance of all reason and evil
dence, had any doubts at Ill Of the
prisoners guilt.
Robert Masterton. the man IT
the dock. wa, the old financier's
grandson.
Family sentiment, however. was
the very last reason that could
have affected Witt. He had ways
grinly resented the marriage of his
only daughter with this mans
father. Elijah Witt had disowned
the pair of them. had inexorahlv
refused any financial help when
the young couple were in diff
culties. and for years after their
death had held himeslf aloof from
Robert Masterton the only child
of the union.
Not from any touch OF forgive
ness or penitence, but solely IN
support of his own judgment and
belief that Robert was the victim
OF circumstance. Elijah Witt had,
Immediately after the arrest,
marshalled the forces Of his
wealth on Roberts side--in a
court where wealth is said 70
count for nothing. He had en-
Gagged the most efficient lawyers,
and borne the whole cost of
Masterton's defense himself. And
with q single word, the jury had
swept It all aside
Prisoner. have you any reason
20 give why sentence should not
be passed on you?"
His Statement
There was note of bitterness,
even of defiance, in MYSTERIOUS
voice as he answered.
81 have nothing to say" he re-
Piled briefly. that has not al.
ready been said
The Judge adjusted his spec.
tacles--a gesture that generally
preceded his severest sentences,
His voice was unpleasantly bland.
Robert Masterton. he said,
.'you have been convicted on
evidence which no enc who has
heard It can doubt, OF having be
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