Nogales international., 1935-10-05
lrst instaIment

OulIc 0 LOCkc became Ine scene OF
crime that was to startle Philadel-
phia, and indeed the entire nation,
by its sensationalism and mystery,
six people were gathered in Mr.
Dawson's private Office. Of these,
one pair sat together in deep chairs
upholstered in brown leather, off to
the right and before a long black
mahogany table. One was a man
approaching middle age, and the
other, ayounger, handsome woman.
A second couple, both youngish
men, sat to the left of the table,
directly opposite the first two, and
facing them. The fifth individual
was Mr. Dawson himself; he lounged
in swivel chair back of the table.
He thus directly confronted the sixth
person, man seated on the other
side of the table.
Outwardly, the gathering ap-
peared peaceful and quiet enough.
Yet an alert witness could have
sensed, beneath the surface, preg-
nant air of tension, an almost ex-
plosive clash of human emotions,
the chief of which were a mutual
diStrust and hostility.
The woman on the right was
clearly angry, though she subdued
and suppressed her resentment. Her
eyes glistened metallica1ly, in dis
tinct menace; she compressed her
lips vindictive1y, and clenched her
hands in her lap until her knuckles
whitened with the pressure. Her
older companions excitement was
apparent in his determined, flushed
face and vicious scowl. Beads of
sweat glistened on his wrinxled
brow, and from time to time he
wiped it nervously with a kerchief.
Of the other pair, the apparent
calm Of the younger man was also
deceptive, Actually, he bent for
ward in his chair, taut and alert to
everything that transpired. The man
sitting beside him wore an express
sion OF anxiety and indignation.
Only Mr.. Dawson and the sixth
person in front of him, at the table,
gave no intimation of being troubled
BY the provocations swaying the
others. Judicially aloof and COM
posed, the lawyer was we'll pre-
jssyed foE biz ftty-ays years. He
had = commanding personalityl his
wide forehead and clear, penetrating
eyes betokened a shrewd intellect
and keen faculty for decision.
The man opposite him was also
middle-aged, rotund and somewhat
nearsighted, and wore glasses; he
had totally bald head, round
owlish face, and vague, amiable
features. A notebook on the table
directly before him proclaimed him
clerk of some sort.
His attention centered on a blue
typewriter pamphlet open on the
table, Mr.. Dawson was speaking
slowly and deliberately.
6. about these new develop
ments in the case of Rowland VS..
Rowland" he stated, "as l under
stand them, the defense has, un-
covered new evidence, since our last
meeting, two weeks ago, so that
Mr.. Rowland can now produce posi-
tive grounds for resisting his wife's
libel for divorce. And the court
has granted him leave to amend his
answer to introduce these facts.
He looked up from his pamphlet
toward the man he addressed, the
older and less agitated of the two
men on his left, the lawyer for the
defense.
Mr.. Trumbuil nodded. "It is, Mr..
Master" he replied, casually.
Then we must now consider the
significance and bearing on the case
of your claims" Mr.. Dawson said.
you are :"
The woman's companion leaned
forward suddenly and raised his
hand
ust moment, Mr. Master" he
interrupted Mr.. Dawson swiftly. II
object to the introduction, by the
respondent, of any evidence inn
pungning Mrs. Rowland's chastity
or the conduct of her private life"
Mr.. Trumbull turned sharply and
ininically toward the speaker, as
Mr. Dawson lounged still farther
back in his swivel chair and folded
his hands.
~ what ~ OtllluS, MT. wizard
he inquired calmly
Because, Mr.. Master Mr.. Will
lard replied eagerly, when Mr..
Rowland originally answered these
divorce proceedings by his wife, he
made no suggestion of any such
evidence. Indeed, he put in no de
Tense whatever He had the oppor-
tunisy at the beginning of the action
to indicate huE he would contest it,
in his formal reply Having failed
to do SO, it is now too late, after |
have presented all the testimony in
Mrs. Rowland's behalf, for him or
lawyer to produce any fresh aflirma-
tive facts"
" Trumbull half rose in his ex-
cited appeal to the arbiter behind
the desk
These new -ts, Mr.. Master"
he declared, 'ot .urled only since
Our last meeting or they would have
been offered long ago All this was
argued before the court last week |