The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-09-04
By EDWIN BALMER
Copyright by Edwin Balmer
wNU Service

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she had made ON the morning after the
visit to the Lorrie apartment; and
now, as Cathal questioned her, she
read it and explained that she had
written 1t, on that first morning, 'be-
cause people were saying so many
things different from what I'd seem"
This helped; but already, by the I'M
planned ways Of her own, Agnes had
established the feeling essential to a
favorable turn Of the case. The jury,
the judge, the courtroom had seen her
and approved her; they believed and
trusted what she said. 1t was per-
fectly plain that only accidentally had
she become concerned with the case.
Yet having happened to be the first
person to come in on Myrtle Lorrie
after the shooting-and having been
the person in best position to judge
Mrs. Lorrie's physical and mental con-
dition at the time when the crime had
occurred-this girl had not turned
against her but had set herself to help
her; when the agent had sent for the
police, Agnes Gleneith herself had
summoned, for Mrs. Lorrie, lawyer.
Agnes was almost the only person in
the courtroom unaware of what she
had, accomplished; she believed she
had bungled everything. She thought
she had much more to do when, after
she had described Myrtle's bruises and
hurts as she had seen them. Cathal
asked: "Now, at the time you first saw
her and when you were in close con-
tact with her, what was the general
state of her mind? Did she show any
clear recollection of what recently
had happened?"
"No. She was both confused and
contradictory. 1 found her in a state
of-of shock. OF extreme-shock."
"Thank you," said Cathal. that's
all 1 need ask" He stepped back a
little and turned to the table of the
State
your Witness" he said to the at
torneys charged with the prosecution
He retreated to his own table, that
of the defense, whereat Mrs. Lorrie all
the time had been seated, and he
dropped upon chair beside his client
Myrtle turned to him, and he nodded
to her almost absently; he touched, re-
assuringly, the impulsive hand she
stretched toward him; then turned and
watched Nordell as he came to his
feet for the cross-examination.
Cathal jerked forward to the edge of
his chair; he kept his hands relaxed,
but he felt as if with fists clenched
ready to fight-fght as he had never
fought before-if the prosecutor tore
into her" as he could.
Yet, while half of Cathal tingled
and bristled thus for the fight, the
cooler half, the professional half-the
part Of him which was a lawyer
hoped the State would 'tear in"
What a mistake! What complete
catastrophe if they attempted to sneer
and jeer at this girl and "show her
upw
Nordell did not make that mistake.
''You have said, Miss Gleneith," he
began with careful courtesy, shat you
happened to be in the building where
Mrs. Lorrie lived, because you were
looking at an apartment in it with
Mr.. Braddon."
Eyes," said Agnes.
'You were engaged to be married to
him."
Agnes hesitated for the first time.
Engaged? Were they ever engaged?
They had been looking at an apart
ment together; so she must have been
then.
Eyes," she said. That was the hon.
est answer.
"Are you engaged to him now?"
mo" There it was, out. That was
honest, too.
"When did you break your engage
ment?"
1--WE didn't break it." What a thing
to talk of before a courtroom full of
people, and with reporters writing 1t
all down.
"Then what did you do?" Nordell
demanded.
Cathal was on his feet to help her;
but, for the first time in this trial, he
was confused. He did not know how to
help her; this was all within Nordell's
right.
We've decided not to be married
that's ALL"
who decided that-Mr. Braddon or
you?"
Il objectw Cathal protested; but
the judge, before ruling, looked to
Nordell.
"Overruled," he said to Cathal. "An-
swer," he said to Agnes.
II did"
"When?"
ut was when we were in the apart
ment upstairs. That was why Jeb-
Mr.. Braddon left the building"
"What effect had this on you?"
"Effect?"
II mean," Nordell explained, "after
just having broken your engagement
upstairs, did you enter the apartment
downstairs in a calm and composed
mental state? Was your own condi-
ton perfectly clear, or confused?"
"Clear," said Agnes. 81 was per-