Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1942-02-06
CHAPTER TWENTY-FI

nightmare question after question
horrible, hurting questions Some
of them she was prepared for, some
took her unawares
Always trying to remember her
part. Never once to let go, to say:
Yes, did hate her Yes, | did want
her dead Yes, all the time was
cutting the sandwiches I was think
ing of her dying
10 remain calm and cool and en-
swer as briefly and passionlessly as
possible Fighting Fighting cV-
cry inch of the way
Over now The horrible man with
the hooked nose was sitting down.
And the kindly, unctuous voice Of Sir
Edwin Bulmer was asking few more
questions. Easy, pleasant questions,
designed to remove any bad impress
sion she might have made under
cross-examination
She was back again in the dock.
Looking at the jury, wondering
Roddy. Roddy standing there,
blinking little, hating it all. Roddy
looking somehow-not quite real,
But nothing's real any more. Ev-
erything is whirling round in q lev
lllsh way. Blacks white, and TOP IS
bottom and east is west ACA I'm
not Elinor Carlisle; I'm the accused,
And, whether they hang me or wheth-
er they let ME so, nothing viii ever
he the same again. If there we're
Just something-just one sane thing
to hold on TO.
(Peter Lords face, perhaps with
it's freckles and its extraordinary ar
of being just the same as usual }
Where had Sir Edwin got to now
Will you tell US what were the
state of Miss Carlisle's feelings to-
ward you?"
Roddy answered in his precise
voice: 81 should say she was deep
Iy attached to me, but certainly no
passionately in love with me-"
"You considered your engagement
satisfactory
:'Oh, quite. We had a good deal II
common"
"Will you tell the jury, Mr.. Welmal
exactly why that engagement wa
broken off,"
"Well, after Mrs. Welman died
pulled US up, l think, with bit of
shock. didn't like the idea of marry
ing a rich woman when l myself wa
penniless. Actually the engagement
was dissolved by mutual consent. w
were both rather relieved"
Now will you tell US just VIVA
your relations were with Mary Ger
rard?"
(Oh, Roddy, poor ROddy, how yo
must hate all this)
II thought her very lovely"
"Were you in love with her."
Just a little"
When was the last time you say
herr"
Let me see. 1t must have bee
the 9TH or 9th of July"
Sir Edwin said, a touch of steel i
his voice: 'You saw her after that
/ think"
'No, 1 went abroad-to Venice an
Dalniatia."
"You returned to England-when?
when 1 received a telegram lie
me seen the 1st of August, il mus
have been"
But you were actually in Eng
land on July 9th, think"
"No."
Come now, Mr.. Welman. You ar
On oath, remember. Is it not a fac
that your passport shows that you re
turned to England on July 25th an
left it again on the night of th
27th?" Sir Edwin's voice held i sub
tly menacing note. Elinor frowneC
suddenly jerked back to reality. VIII
was Counsel bullying his own Wit
ness?
Rodericl1 had turned rather pail
He was silent for minute or two
then he said with an effort: we
yes that is So"
did you go and see this girl Mar
Gerard in London on the 25th a
her lodgings"
Eyes, did"
did you ask her to marry you =?
"Er-er-yes."
What was her answer?"
She refused"
you are not a rich man, Mr.. We
mani"
No"
and you are rather heavily
debit"
what business is that of yours :?
Were you not aware Of the fac
III l,