Part 29 (1/2)
But the trump card of all, and one most skilfully played by the advocate, was this:--His client had served in the recent Indian war, ht not the eance, and have mistaken his partner for him? He had been one of that little band of heroes, under the command of General Forsyth, who only the previous year had ”stood off” overwhel forces of the enemy; and ith no other rampart than their own dead horses, and no other food than the putrefying flesh of the aniainst the fiercest and hts known to Plains history Moreover, he was one of those who had volunteered to break through at night, braving certain death, and almost certain death by torture, in order to ed handful of scouts Was this the man to commit such a foul and sordid murder for the sake of a few dollars? Was this ht so bravely to defend their frontier, to be sacrificed to such a preposterous suspicion, to be allowed to suffer for the crie enemy, to withstand whom he had so often and so freely risked his life?
With the battle of the Arickaree Fork fresh in their memories, not one who heard him could be of any two iven
This clever drawing of a red herring across the trail of the main issue answered Lawyer Schofield's eloquence had its reward He obtained his verdict, and his client was acquitted
But it was not a spontaneous verdict, not a triu and earnestly did the jury debate, and when at last the accused walked forth a free man, he was received with a silence that was oht to do his best for his client, and his strong appeal to sentiment was specious, if successful But nobody believed over If the Sioux had killed John Denton, they would have run off all his possessions, probably have fired the slab hut, instead of relieving him of his cash alone Nor would they have left him his scalp No To the frontier community that Indian theory would not wash Justice had been defeated, and Roden Musgrave had few, if any, friends But when there sallied forth stealthily that night a band of dissatisfied and justice loving citizens, well-ar in its midst an ominous coil of rope, the man who had been acquitted that day was not to be found Nor, in fact, were they destined ever to set eyes upon hiain
This, set forth in a volu over many colurasped all the details, he realised that, although powerless to effect material ruin, there was still that about the equivocal nature of the acquittal which would be sufficient to dae his rival irreparably froreat deal of it is sure to stick, is a trite axiom The crime was an exceptionally brutal one, and the bare suspicion of it still clinging to a h To do him justice, Lambert himself felt a repulsion towards one who could ever have colourably lain under so horrible a suspicion, which was not altogether the outcome of his hatred of this particular individual What would Mona think of it? What action would Musgrave's superior take in the matter? Surely no man could continue to hold an official position with such a stign, of course And then an uneasyassailed the plotter's ly visions of suits for slander, defamation, what not The man had stood his trial and had been acquitted It would be a ticklishthe story around
Thewas easier than to start this kind of ball rolling, nothing on earth ress once it was fairly in ; to which effect he resolved to sleep upon it
Having accordingly slept upon it, he decided that two heads were better than one If anybody in Doppersdorp were coh, that individual was Sonnenberg
Not for a moment did it occur to Lambert that he was about to perpetrate a wholly mean and dishonourable act, or if it did, he excused it on the ground that all's fair in love and war Musgrave had cut hirave had had his day; now he, Lah to suppose that he could walk into Mona's heart over, figuratively speaking, the other's dead body; nevertheless he would tumble down their own fair house of cards, would, in fact, separate the, when put in possession of this neeapon against their coht; when he saw the portrait, and read the report of the case, his exultation knew no bounds
”We have hiet the value oftrap”
”But, wait now Let's be careful,” urged La about a story of this kind Might get ourselves into trouble, eh?”
”Trouble? Trouble be daht, or to-morrow at latest, it shall be all over the district Even if we did render ourselves liable to any action by passing it on--which we don't--there's a better way of doing it”
”What is it?”
”Why, filter it through Chandler It won't take long to run through hi!” cried Lambert
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
A SWORD--LONG RUSTED
Every small community, permanent or temporary, comprises at least one old woman of the male sex, frequently more than one
It is difficult to particularise whence this product springs The average club perhaps is pre-erowth both er shi+ps it thrives and flourishes; indeed, so well known is the type as not to need defining here In up-country townshi+ps, too, its roots strike s not unfrequently tend to bestir the monotony of life, even if they should occasionally e
Now Doppersdorp was no exception to the universal rule, for that historic place owned a really prize specimen of the male ”old woman”
This was a brisk, elderly, dapper individual, the primary article of whose creed was that what he didn't knoas not worth knowing In aspect he was somewhat Hebraic, with the predatory eye and prominent ”beak” of a certain phase of ”the tribes” He was shortish of stature, and wore his curly grey hair brushed up aggressively over his ears and neck, eke a beard of the same hue and texture By profession he described hiht , and how he procured the requisite equivalent for the necessaries of life was ever a dark hest heaven and a fairly sordid section of the lower depths of earth ht meet in his individuality, he rejoiced in the na we are short of hisHe knew very much more than really existed or had ever happened You could not mention a name or a place but forthould strea to individual or locality, delivered in a darklyanybody could be , but that event becahout Doppersdorp within the space of half a day at the furthest
He had a spiritual side, too, as befitted one thus nahlyprecepts for the improvement of those who sat daily at Jones' not too well-appointed board; eke would he invent anecdotes whose first narration had, according to him, moved the most hardened to tears He was full up with unction, too, and would frequently ”expound” froatherum” persuasion, whence was dispensed Sabbath nourish Doppersdorp And he loved not Roden Musgrave
Now the said Michael Chandler, co the irreverent as ”Old Buzfuz,” held the office of librarian of the Doppersdorp public library; wherefore Lambert's proposal to endow that useful institution with some of the files of newspapers bequeathed hienuine elation The idea was an excellent one There was plenty of roo
Perhaps though--er--he suggested, turning on some unction, perhaps--er-- Dr La over some of the files he so very kindly wished to present, just toobjectionable in thees and sexes, he explained, with another unctuous gulp