Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 18, 1925 — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

268 Lederer rose to the bluff. “ I mean yes,” he snapped. ‘‘ Sure I was there when they made it.”’ ‘“ Who else was there?” “ Klien and Wert and Mason—” “Shut up!” roared Farley. “And together you persuaded, coerced, and bullied Mason Farley into disowning his daughter and making you joint heirs?” Cosgrove pressed his question home with the force of a lance thrust. “No!” shouted Lederer. “ We didn’t bully him. We said we’d see Hazel mar- ried—” : “Shut up!” roared Farley. “ You—” “ That’s enough!” cried Cosgrove. “In short, gentlemen of the jury, that will was framed among these men to cheat a girl out of her inheritance. I think the attitude with which Farley and Lederer have treat- ed my questions speaks for itself. Now, there’s just one more matter I want to get from you, Lederer. It’s about that shooting we enjoyed together. You say your gun had blanks in it.” : “Ves.” Lederer ground out the word with lowered eyes. “When did I put those blank cartridges in?” ‘When you took my gun.” “Do you want to admit now that you are mistaken about my taking your gun— or do you want me to put John Gaines on the stand to refresh your memory?” There came a deathly silence to the room—a silence of jury and court, and especially a pregnant silence on the part of the witness. ‘“ Answer that question!”’ thundered Cos- grove. “T remember now,” growled Lederer. “ You didn’t take my gun.” “All right; stand down! Unless ”— Cosgrove tumed again to Creevy—‘ the attorney for the people wishes to cross- examine.” But he didn’t, Creevy had no desire to cross-examine Lederer; and even if he had, it is problematical if he would have had the chance, for Lederer was out of the witness box before Cosgrove’s amiable offer had left his lips. In another moment Lederer was out of ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. the courthouse. With panic driving him, he was out and away—away for any place that would still in his shaken heart the torturing fear that the mob which the con- spirators had so painstakingly sought to turn against Cosgrove would soon be upon his heels. For he knew the men of Man- ford, and he knew the summary justice which they were wont to mete out to those they condemned. He had felt them turn against him as Cosgrove had so gallantly swung into de- fense. He had sensed it and seen it as he sat in the witness box. Silently, ominously, he had felt the tide of rough range justice turn against him and condemn him. That knowledge engendered in him a fear which gave him wings, feverish wings which bore him away, fast galloping, in a fear that fed upon the frenzied beating of his pony’s hoofs. Before Cosgrove had well begun to con- tinue his defense and rend the tissue of lies that had well-nigh brought him to death, Lederer was a panicky fugitive from the very wrath through which he had confi- dently and skillfully endeavored to remove Cosgrove from his path. His going left Farley frantic, too. Made of more determined stuff than either of his confederates, and more deeply confident of his influence over the. crowd, Farley was still fighting, but he was fighting desper- ately. “You can make what you like out of his lies an’ his trickery,” he cried to judge, jury, and all who heard his voice, “ but you can’t get out of the fact that he shot down Klien! He can’t lie out of that! His own words convict him of that. Even Gaines says Jake was unarmed.” He stopped, for, his throat suddenly dry- ing, he choked, his voice catching in an odd, despairing manner. And he found himself suddenly enveloped in a deadly silence. “Which side are you representing?” asked Cosgrove dryly. “Your honor!” Creevy exclaimed, sud- denly arising. ‘ I move that the defendant be ordered to continue his defense or close it. With all his spectacular bluff he hasn’t produced a single fact to show him inno- cent of the original charge. Wert Farley Eboo S , = —— ~——- =, —— <-S e S ey ~~ > mts ss _ ee a ieee ok Ss iS 5 wo a a es en ge er ee a Pn 2 ee —