input: Make use of the article to answer the questions. CHAPTER XXI

AGAINST TIME

Dixon's prediction proved correct. When I was brought into court a second time there was still no news of Wilkins, and after further testimony of no importance the case was again adjourned. This time, however, bail was allowed, and Boone and Rancher Gordon stood surety for me. The latter was by no means rich, and had, like the rest of us, suffered severe losses of late. Dixon was the first to greet me when I went forth, somewhat moodily, a free man for the time being.

"You don't look either so cheerful or grateful as you ought to be," he said.

"You are wrong in one respect. I am at least sincerely grateful for your efforts."

Dixon, in defiance of traditions, smote me on the shoulder. "Then what's the matter with the cheerfulness?"

"It is not exactly pleasant to have a charge of this description hanging over one indefinitely, and I have already lost time that can never be made up," I said. "Lane will no doubt produce his witness when he considers it opportune, and there is small encouragement to work in the prospect of spending a lengthy time in jail while one's possessions go to ruin."

"You think Lane had a hand in his disappearance?" Dixon asked thoughtfully; and when I nodded, commented: "I can't quite say I do. My reasons are not conclusive, and human nature's curious, anyway; but I'm not sure that Wilkins will, if he can help it, turn up at all. However, in the meantime, the dinner we're both invited to will put heart into you." 1. Who asked if Lane had something to do with the disappearance?
2. Did he think Lane did?
3. Were his reasons sound?
4. What were they invited to?
5. Whose predictions came true?
6. How many times had court been held?
7. And still nothing about Wilkins?
8. Who posted bail?
9. Who didn't have tons of money?
10. Who did he see first?
numbered_answers: 1. Dixon
2. he's not sure
3. he is not 100%
4. dinner
5. Dixon's
6. Two
7. no news
8. Boone and Rancher Gordon
9. Boone and Rancher Gordonhad had suffered losses
10. Dixon

input: Make use of the article to answer the questions. CHAPTER XVIII

CLEVER TACTICS

As soon as M. Durand had recovered from the shock of Madame la Marquise's sudden invasion of his sanctum, he ran to the portiere which he had been watching so anxiously, and, pushing it aside, he disclosed the door partially open.

"Monsieur le Comte de Stainville!" he called discreetly.

"Has she gone?" came in a whisper from the inner room.

"Yes! yes! I pray you enter, M. le Comte," said M. Durand, obsequiously holding the portiere aside. "Madame la Marquise only passed through very quickly; she took notice of nothing, I assure you."

Gaston de Stainville cast a quick searching glance round the room as he entered, and fidgeted nervously with a lace handkerchief in his hand. No doubt his enforced sudden retreat at Lydie's approach had been humiliating to his pride. But he did not want to come on her too abruptly, and was chafing now because he needed a menial's help to further his desires.

"You were a fool, man, to place me in this awkward position," he said with a scowl directed at M. Durand's meek personality, "or else a knave, in which case ..."

"Ten thousand pardons, M. le Comte," rejoined the little man apologetically. "Madame la Marquise scarcely ever comes this way after _le petit lever_. She invariably retires to her study, and thither I should have had the honour to conduct you, according to your wish."

"You seem very sure that Madame la Marquise would have granted me a private audience." 1. Who had to hide?
2. From whom?
3. What is her first name?
4. Does he want to see her?
5. Was she supposed to walk that way?
6. Where is she usually?
7. Who lets him in?
8. Does he consider him an equal?
9. What does he call him?
10. How else does he think of him?
11. Did he want to surprise her?
12. Was he proud of what happened?
13. How does he feel?
numbered_answers: 1. Monsieur le Comte de Stainville
2. Madame la Marquise
3. unknown
4. no
5. no
6. her study,
7. M. Durand
8. no
9. fool
10. meek
11. no
12. no
13. humiliated

input: Make use of the article to answer the questions. Dallas (CNN) -- The U.S. Supreme Court has delayed the scheduled execution on an inmate on death row in Texas amid questions about a psychologist who testified that blacks and Hispanics were more likely to commit future crimes.

Duane Edward Buck already had eaten a final meal of fried chicken, fried fish, french fries, salad, jalapeno peppers and apples when news came of the court's decision on Thursday evening, Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Jason Clark said.

"Praise the Lord Jesus," Clark quoted the condemned man as saying. "God is worthy to be praised. God's mercy triumphs over judgment, and I feel good."

Buck had been set to die by lethal injection, but the court delayed the execution to give it time to review the way a lower court handled the case. While that happens, Buck remains on death row.

Buck was convicted of the 1995 killings of Debra Gardner and Kenneth Butler. According to Texas officials, Buck shot Gardner in front of her daughter, who begged for her mother's life.

A third person, Phyllis Taylor, was shot, but she sought clemency for Buck this week. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, however, recommended against granting Buck clemency

Buck's attorney, Katherine C. Black, said the recommendation, "fails to recognize what the highest legal officer in the state of Texas has acknowledged: No one should be executed based on a process tainted by considerations of race."

Black is referring to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, who was the state's attorney general in 2000, when he spoke of seven death row inmates, including Buck. Cornyn said he believed the inmates had been unfairly sentenced to death based on testimony that was racially tainted by psychologist Walter Quijano, who repeatedly told juries that black or Hispanic defendants were more likely to commit future crimes. 1. What was delayed?
2. Who delayed it?
3. What was the prisoner's name?
4. What was his lawyer's name?
5. In what state was he incarcarated?
6. Who is the spokesperson for Criminal Justice there?
7. What was Buck convicted of?
8. When did the crime happen?
9. Was anyone else hurt?
10. Who?
11. How were they hurt and killed?
12. How was Buck set to die?
13. Was he released from prison?
14. What did they do with him?
numbered_answers:
1. scheduled execution on an inmate
2. The U.S. Supreme Court
3. Duane Edward Buck
4. Katherine C. Black
5. Texas
6. Jason Clark
7. killings of Debra Gardner and Kenneth Butler
8. 1995
9. A third person
10. Phyllis Taylor
11. Buck shot Gardner
12. lethal injection
13. No
14. Buck remains on death row.