Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 138: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

= him quietly. © in Stephen himself, but I am afraid—tI feel = <= <that Se dreadful has ee I 920° feet seeking to wipe out the impression which his adversary had obviously made by proceeding at once with the case. Dr. Jeffreys, the medical examiner, was the first witness. He was subjected to a lengthy cross-examination by Rowe when turned over to the defense. The questions concerned the wound made by the revolver shot and the condition and nature of the injuries inflicted upon the body of Niles Hamersley by the fall from the attic into the room below, but it brought out nothing new, and to Claudia’s mind was so evident- ly a mere effort to gain time that her anxiety ~ and suspense increased. Still no message came, and when the doc- tor was succeeded on the witness stand by Inspector Dawes and the testimony given at the time of the indictment was repeated the girl’s vague foreboding became a mount- ing dread. “Had Stephen quarreled with the black- mailer and carried out his threat to silence him forever? Shivering, she recalled the grim earnestness in his tone when he swore to do so if she would not consent to the sordid bargain. How could Uncle Matt re- main so seemingly intent on the inspector’s evidence, every word of which he must know by heart, and how could Dreyer sit there with that cynically humorous expres- ‘sion, his gaze fixed upon his ancient enemy, the district attorney, as though the personal feud between them was the only thing that mattered! Could anything have happened to Stephen himself? The noon recess came and after hastily swallowing a few mouthfuls of food Claudia hurried back with her guard to the ante- room, where she found her joint counsel awaiting her. Here there was no pretense. “Not a word, child!” Rowe replied to her tremulous query. ‘ We can only wait and hope—” “We could have put the negotiations in competent hands!” Dreyer gestured ner- vously. ‘“ This is what comes of sending a boy on a man’s errand!” “Tf was the boy who succeeded where every one else failed,” Claudia reminded ee have perfect confidence ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. suppose we can only wait on, as Uncle Matt says, but the Suspense is almost unen- durable!” It was ended sooner than she had dreamed, however, and in a fashion which her worst foreboding had not pictured. The afternoon session was opened, and when the clerk of the court turned to call the third witness for the prosecution the district attorney arose with such an air of anticipa- tory triumph that Claudia straightened in- stinctively in her chair and in a low aside she heard Dreyer’s warning: * Look out! He’s going to unmask his guns! >? “Hugo Zorn to the stand!” In the tense stillness. the clerk’s voice rang out wtih al- most startling distinctness, and the girl’s heart turned to lead within her. Zorn! The authorities had located him at the eleventh hour and she was lost! Or had he deliberately offered himself to the State as a witness after obtaining the money for his silence from Stephen? But why had no ‘message come? Where was Stephen? Her counsel sat stunned, but with the frantic questions flooding her brain Claudia did not notice the long pause that had en- sued until the clerk of the court once more called that hated name. Then a door at the side of the court room opened and an attendant entered hurriedly to proceed to the district attorney. A quick, low-toned interchange of question and an- swer followed and the prosecutor turned to face both the court and the jury box. His expression was for once wholly sincere in his shocked amazement and when he spoke his voice was low and trembled. ‘“‘ May it please the court, I must with- draw the name of this witness. Hugo Zorn can never take the stand to testify. I have just received word of his death!” CHAPTER XVII. THE NEW WITNESS. OURT was hurriedly adjourned, and Claudia returned to her cell to wait with what patience she could muster for the summons to the counsel room to con- fer with Uncle Matt and his associate. = ‘com i books Rs as 260