Evening star., 1934-04-26
CHAPTER XIV.
NORMAN,S STORY.

and to Judith, You'll have the rest
OF your life to talk to him."
Judith watched his quick. firm step
as he strode to the witness stand.
II object!" roared Lampere.
pose forgotten, fury in his face.
'On what grounds?" inquired Nor
gan. You said in your closing words
that you wished you had him here to
present. Well, I've brought him and
when he gets through testifying for
me you can spend the night with
him"
Mr.. Dale, you are no longer asso-
ciated with Mr.. Lampere, are you?
Will you give the date that you sew
cred connections there?"
July "a"
will you give your reasons for
leaving?" -.
May I say broadly that I learned
Of certain conditions which made it
impossible for me to remain con-
scientiously"
Did you learn of these conditions
from inside of the Office, Or"
II was approached from the outside.
gave Mr.. Lampere no reason for
leaving because wanted first to make
sure that the party to whom ! had
talked was right"
your wife hadn't previously told
you certain facts that she, as former
stenographer to Tom Bevins knew"
She tried to, but I had allowed
my mind to become so poisoned
against her theories {. not against
her, want you to understand, but
against her theories, that would not
listen"
where have you been since you left
wour firm, Mr.. Dale?"
I'm the valley Of the Rio Diablo.
went there to check the statements
OF the man who approached me while
was still acting with Mr.. Lampere.
Did Mrs. Dale know of your
presence?"
II believe not think at one time
she halfway recognized me. I was
working at the Scathborne oil fields
at the time. The first well had lust
come in and she drove over to see it.
It was dark, and after the first shock
OF seeing her look at me with half
recognition, I hurried away"
why were you there incognito?"
!
investigation unobserved by any one"
why did you begin at Scathborne
field?"
"scathborne, as you know, is sub
sidized by Morton Lampere. Mr..
Lampere's capital developed the field"
II object. I demand that state
ment be stricken from the records
=. demand"
"Mr. Morgan" said the judge, who
was leaning over his desk with in
terest. proceed with your witness"
"Mr. Dale, in what capacity did you
serve while in the Rio Diablo basinq"
Il was acting as a prosecutor Of
one Judith Dale"
"Yollr duties?"
ITO assist the gentleman sitting
out there in the first row"-he pointed
to Lampere's last witness-"in creating
mutiny among the workers, in spying
on Mrs. Dale and If possible in CATCH
ing her in some compromising posi-
tion which was to be construed to
Scathborne's benefit"
Before you go into this, Mr. Dale,
how long had you known Tom
Bevins?"
"All my life. Our houses, the
Bevins' and my fathers, were in the
same block"
I'm the course of your life did you
ever at any time see Mr. Bevins under
the influence of alcohol"
big Tom, you mean, drunk? Good
heavens, no, and it was the one thing
he was strict about in the field. He
even disliked big dinner parties where
wine was served. I don't believe he
ever took anything stronger than a
cocktail"
"Mr. Dale, prior to your appearance
here a witness intimated that Big
Tom had come home on numerous oc-
casions completely under the influence
Of liquor"
so help me God" said Norman
Dale, that person lied"
Your honor!" roared Lampere,
"are you going to sit there and let
this"
'Mr. Lampere. sit down before
charge you with contempt of court"
barked the judge. Your only other
course will be to prove your witness
has not perjured herself"
Mr. Morgan" he turned to Judge
tildI QucSllOl WdS COIIl-
pletely unethical, but" he coughed
irascibly, proceed and watch your
words er, just a moment, bailiff.
catch that man going through the
door, would like to question him
further and if we can prove perjury
there . now proceed"
But they didn't proceed. Such con-
fusion arose at the bailiff's attempt
to capture his man that the Judge
called a recess and when court again
convened, word was sent in that
Morton Lampere had become violently
Ill and asked the session be adjourned
until the following day.
Judith and Norman left the court
house together. When they paused on
the steps for photographs, they were
asked for interviews.
"Give us chance to talk" pleaded
Norman, I'VE haven't had time to say
more than hello"
His roadster waited at a nearby
garage. Silently they got into 1t and
drove out to Hillendale.
1.-THE DeMaos are in Galveston for
the week; they turned the house over
to U.s."
That was nice.
They paused outside the door.
II planted your stocks" Norman
said, as he fumbled for the right key.
"Yes, saw you"
"You-what?"
II thought it was you even though
Delphy said you were the new gar
dener." She looked at the wrought
iron console table, caressed it need
lessly. Lets get some glads for that
bowl, those look rusty around the
edge"
They went out into the garden, see
WAKE UP YOUR /
liver RTTE-