THE CROOKED TRAIL

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 249, 20 October 1924, Page 14

THE CROOKED TRAIL

By SILAS K. HOCKING.

I CHAPTER XNI. The prevailing opinion was that, so far. the case had gone strongly against the accused. Over nearly every lunch table in the town the subject was discussed, and no one was able to discover any value in Kuth Trudgeon's evidence. In the opinion of most people, it only made tlie matter worse. The boy, whoever he might bo. declared that it was Jack Lawrence who gave him the parcel. That had come out emphat'oally in Mrs. Trud£-eon"3 evidence. What object, therefore, had TregeHes in putting her into the witness-box? Jacks' friends returned to the courtroom not only considerably puzzled, but very much depressed. Firmly as they were convinced of his innocence, they could not see how be was to get out of it. Unless the lawyer had something up his sleeve that no one suspected. Jack's fate was practically settled. At one o'clock the court-room wa-, if possible. more crowded than ever. People were wedged together like sardines in a tin. Everyone was on the gui rive. The air seemed to throb with excitement. The first witness called was Dick Thomas. Dick was evidently in great form, and was not in the least abashed. When he stepped into the witness-box he looked round and grinned. He had never felt so important in his life. Taking the oath and kissing the Bible appeared to him a great joke. Dick's story was that just outside Peter's Green a gent spoke to him and offered him half-a-crown to do an ■ errand for him. He was to come on to Hendra and wait just inuide the gate until he was wanted. The gent who ! had spoken to him came out of the ' house with a parcel, and asked him to i take it on to the bungnlow at Porth ' St. Mary, and to say that Mr. Jack I t I-awrence had sent it, and that it was 11 to bo put in a safe place. < "Would you know the gent again if 11 you were to see him?"' Tregelles asked, I t suavely. i "In course I should." Dick responded, i "Is that the gent*" Tregelles qucs- 1 tioned, pointing to Jack, who stood in 1 the dock. 1 "No, it ain't," Dick said, without a J moment's licsitat : on. ! "You are sure?" I "Sartin. Not a bit like him."' I '"Will you look round the room and see if he is here?" c Instantly Dick swept the room with t his fierce eyes. Suddenly he exclaimed, I "Aye, there 'c is setin' agin the door— ' that's 'im,'' nnd he pointed with his k finger. f Mark Trebiddy grew pale to tlie lips, o Then he sprang to his feet. "Mr. j Mayor," he said, "I protest. This is a t faked-up story. T—l " h "Sit down," said the Mayor, putting fi all the sternness he could command sinto bis voice. t '"Aye, that's 'im right enough." DicK h shrilled. "I'd know 'im anywhere." Por a while the sensation in Court h got out of bounds. It was in vain the janitors shouted "Silence." The place ii seethed and bubbled with excitement. aMark edged himself nearer to the si corridor door, pale and tremblinu. The Mayor consulted for a moment or two t. with his colleagues; then he shouted ci that he would clear the Court unless silence was restored. Cl Instantly there was a great stillntfss. ci One could almost hear the ticking of the clock. ( j ( The police inspector cross-questioned I>, Dick on every, point of his story, then lithe Mayor took him in hand. Finally, Colonel Minver made a gallant attempt ai to shako his evidence, but Dick was \) squal to tbe entire Bench. He added ,„ lothing to his story, and he took noth- ] n ng from it. He had never spoken to fcthe gent in the dock, and -p lad never seen the lawyer till w ;hat morning, nnd he was abso- j s utely certain that the gent by the m loor was the man who gave him the m larcel and the message and the half- i_ Town. la Dick was allowed lo sit on the floor n, tear the reporters' table, and then iw•unos Biddic-k, a baker of Poldulo, Ihi ■ppeared in the witness-box. { Mis story was that he had disposed \eo d his last loaf in Peter's Green, and ;br ras returning in his empty cart to •oldulo on the day in question. Just by ititside Peter's Green he passed Mr jth lark Trebiddy. who was talking to ' \>v lick Thomas. When he reached Hendra Ihi Ir.- Jack Lawrence was just conrng jpo ut of the gate, and he offered to give fo ira a lift, and tiny rode back to Pol- th ulo together. ~_ "Was he wearing an overcoat'" hy uestioned the lawyer. foi "No, he was not," was the ready ab ?ply. "There was. a bit of a nip in the md, I remember, and be buttoned his ihe ic-ket tightly about him." , mi "And did he carry a parcel?" on "Well, I didn't see no parcel, any- ■ ow." •> I sal "You see that parcel on the table'" ( '°' iiestioned Tregelles. "Do you think he I te < light have carried it in his pocket or P n nderneath his jacket?" j in "Which pocket, sir?" Amos asked ha lively. ow "Never mind which pocket. Do you ha link he had that parcel iv his posses- ,1C on when you offered him a lift?" "11l his 'ands, do you mean?" lal "In his hands or under his arm or in nderneath his coat."' tr« "Well, sir, seem' as he used both I hands when he climbed up into tlie f". cart, and he buttoned his jacket after V* 1 be got m, where hid my eyes have been not to 'nve seen it?" "I think that will do."' iTrc-'elles smiled and sat down. "You are certa : n." questioned the Mayor, "that it was Mr. Mark Trebiddy you passtd just outside Peter's Wl Green?" P ai ..t i • „ or I be. sir,' tin "And he was talking to the previous — witness?" "He wa* talking to Dick Thomas."' 5 "Ami you left them behind you'" ~" 'I did." "And when you reached Hendra, Mr. Jack Lawrence was just coming out of the gate?*' "He was." • The Mayor consulted his notes for a moment or two. then looked towards Colonel Minver, but that gentleman remained silent. Amos sat down on the step of the witness-box. The last witness was Trewithen. He came quietly forward without looking to the right or left. Enid gave a little gasp and squeezed Audreys arm. He was th* last man in tie world she expected to see. and ber heart gave a sudden thump Audrey could not understand win- Knid should squeeze ber arm, or why the blood should mount suddenly to her face. "You know him?" she whispered! Enid nodded, but did not turn her

Her reflection was that Roger had not changed in the least since he went away. Tbe same lean face, the same unruly | mop of reddish-brown hair, the same ' thrust-out chin, the same easy pose. Xo, be was not handsome, and vet in some way ho was curiously attractive. When he spoke his voice thrilled her. It was not loud, but it carried easily. [ His story was t hat on the day in quo's|tion he was making sketches of Hendra House to illustrate an article he was writing. The article and sketches appeared ill till' previous Saturday's issue of tbe "County Cazette."' He had nearly finished his work, and was near the lodge behind which he bad left Ids motor bicycle. His impression at the time was that the house was empty, as he had seen no one about. Then, somewhat to liia surprise, the front door opened and a young man came out with a brown paper parcel tucked under his arm. He looked quickly about him in all directions, then walked down ihe drive loward the gate. The gate stood open, and a boy was leaning against the post. He was not near enough to hear what was said, and was almost hidden by a large, holly bush, but be saw the young man give the parcel to tbe boy; also, he judged, some money. The boy nodded and walked away, aiid the young man returned to the house. A few minutes later he mounted his bicycle and rode away. Less than a mile along the road he overtook the '.i.iv- with the parcel rnd'r lis arm. Being a little curious, he asked the boy the young man's name. "Lawrence,"' said the hoy—"at least, he said his name was Lawrence." "And do you live in Poldulo?"' he J questioned. -No."' the boy replied. -I live in ] Peter's Green." | Nothing more was said, and be ' I bought no more of the matter until be saw the account of the arrest of Mr. lack Lawrence on a charge of larceny. That set him thinking. He knew Mr. Lawrence very well by sight, and he felt sure that some mistake bad been made. >o he rode to Poldulo and made inquiries it the police station, ac/ter which he -ode on to Peter's Green and identified the boy he had seen. He did so that be night know where to lay hands on him in ■ase be might be required. It was not intil the previous day that he discovered .bat Mr. Tregelles was defending tho tccused. so he went to him nnd gave lim such information as be possessed, le did not know Mr. Trebiddy. To the >est of his knowledge he had never seen lim, but he was quite certain that the -oung man he saw at Hendra was not dr. Lawrence, at least not Mr. .lack >awrence. He might be some other .awrenc-e whom he did not know. "Would you mind looking round the ourt." said Mr. Tregelles, suavely, "and oiling us if tbe young man you saw at lendra is present?" Roger turned his head, and with his een eyes swept a sea of upturned aces. He saw Enid, and a smile played ver his rugged face. The Mayor umped to his feet and looked eagerly owards the corridor door, then he egan fo whisper excitedly to his i-llow-magistrales. Roger continued his crutiny. and when he had completed he circuit of the room he shook his cad. "No,"' lie said, "I do not see him ere." "Not see him?" said Tregelles. turnlg swiftly round and staring at the [lot where Mark Trebiddv had been tting. "Silence in court." shouted the janiir. for the rpom was once more in jmmotion. "Mr. Trebiddy went out into the jrridor a long time ago," some one tiled. "Then let him be brought back." thun;red the Mayor. And while search was ?ing made the court hummed like a ?e-hive. The Bench whispered and gesticulated id argued. The Town Clerk stood at le table and spoke to the Mayor. The ■dice inspector rubbed his chin and oked perplexed. Nobody seemed to low what was tbe right thing to do. here appeared to be no precedent to hich any one could appeal. Procedure often not a strong point with local agistrates, and the Poldulo Bench was it particularly learned in points of w. ll" Mark Trebiddy chose to leave, had ey any right to bring him back? He is not under arrest. He had given s evidence. Yes, but argued others, he has clearly mmitted perjury, and should lie ought back without delay. : | Murk, however, had settled the matter I disappearing. The door leading into J c corridor had lieen kept ajar for the | irpose of ventilation. The last seen of I m he had been leaning against tbe ( st half hidden from the Bench. Bere Roger Trewithen had got half rough his evidence he had slipped ietly into the corridor and escaped a back door. If he could not be nul what was tbe use of talking out bringing him back? After the Mayor had secured silence announced in his most impressive inner that they could only deal with c thing at a time. "The case against Mr. Lawrence," he d. "is dismissed, and he leaves the jrt without a stain upon his charae- -." Also, the Bench desired to ox?ss their profound sympathy with him the trying circumstances in which he rl been plnecd through no fault of his n, and their extreme regret that he ■1 suffered so much inconvenience and, might add. pain and distress. V-s what further action should l>e ten, that would lie decided by himself consultation with his brother magisites. : -fo ended the most remarkable, as well the most farcical, trial that had ever ten place within the walls of the Pol- j lo police court. (To be continued daily.)