word came like a musket shot. The target rang:
“Sustained!——”
“Of course, if you object, Mr. Dillon——”
“I object.”
The girl saw now where the shot had come from.
“If that is to be brought out I will bring it out myself!”
The speaker seemed needlessly contemptuous of Mr. Redmond—quite ill-mannered, in fact.
The assistant district attorney lifted his eyebrows to the jury as if to indicate that one had to be patient with these young cockatoos.
“Proceed, gentlemen!”
But the girl was no longer listening. She only saw the tall, straight youth in shabby clothes, whose black eyes were fixed in scorn upon the human monkey in the chair. A red spot burned in both his cheeks, his chin quivered—a bundle of nerves—Passion incarnate!
“And then?” inquired Redmond politely of the chimpanzee.
“He grabbed a pistol out of his pocket and floored me with the butt. Eleven stitches!”
He pointed to the still bright scar.
“Your witness.”
The jury with one accord turned to the youthful avenger at the bar.
“You’re an adjuster?” he asked indifferently.
“Sure.”
“Why were you looking for Renig?”
The chimpanzee bared his teeth and shot out his jaw.
“This here Renig was short seventy-two dollars fifty. Took it out of the collections, see?—I was looking fer that—the company’s money.”
“Was that all you were looking for?” The voice was insinuating with a hidden threat.
“Sure.”
“Did you ask him to sign a paper?”
The chimpanzee hesitated.
“A paper?”
“I said a paper!”
The threat had become apparent. The jury showed signs of interest.
“Answer the question!” admonished the judge.
“Yeh. I showed him a paper.”
“What was it?”
“A release.”
“Let me see it!”
“It’s in me coat.”
“Get it!”
Redmond looked slightly bored. The heart of the girl on the dais fluttered.
“Is this paper material?” inquired Judge Barker. “If not—in the interest of time—why not ask him what was in it?”
“The paper is very material.”
“How can it be?”
“I should prefer to bring that out in examination.”
“Very well. Try your case in your own way.” The judge spoke impatiently, and the girl suddenly hated her father’s old friend. Dillon took the document and flung it open with a gesture of disgust.
“Did you ask the defendant to sign this?”
“Sure, I did!” retorted the witness aggressively.
“It is a full release and acquittance to the gas company, is it not, for any damages he may have suffered through its negligence in occasioning the death of his wife and child!”
The jury stiffened to a man.
“Wha-a-at!” ejaculated Redmond. “Let me see it!”
“You will have your chance!” retorted Dillon.
“Well, what if it is?” sneered the witness.
“May I see that paper, please?” requested the foreman.
“One moment!”
Dillon’s arm hovered over the witness like a flaming sword.
“Is it not the fact—look at me!—is it not the fact that your company installed a defective stove in Renig’s flat, as a result of which his wife, who was going to have a child, became ill, and that he stole from the company in order to pay for a doctor to save her life? Is it not a fact that she and her three-day-old baby died from gas poisoning? And is it not the fact that you”—he choked in spite of himself—“that you tried to compel him to sign a release under threat that if he refused you would have him arrested for larceny?”
He paused, his lips trembling.
“Well, what if I did?”
Life stopped in the court-room.
“You cur!”
The words cracked like a whip.
“Bang!” went the judge’s gavel. “Mr. Dillon! Mr. Dillon! That is grossly improper! I must admonish you! I do admonish you!”
“Oh!” moaned the woman on the front bench. “Oh! The poor baby!”
“I beg the court’s pardon!” said Dillon. “I apologize for the word—but not for the thought behind it.”
“I’ll show you whether I’m a cur or not!” snarled the chimpanzee, half rising from the chair.
Redmond stepped quickly to the bench.
“I had no idea—” he began in an undertone. “Fasset sent this case in from Part I, without my knowing anything about it. Rather a low trick of him! I suppose the complainant insisted on a trial. Of course the jury won’t convict, but technically there’s no defence. After all, this fellow Ganz was working for somebody else. He was only carrying out his orders. What would you suggest?”
The judge’s scalp had turned a glistening crimson. He loathed being put in such a position.
“Why do you bring cases before me until you have looked into their merits, Mr. Redmond?” he complained, yet with extreme politeness.
“There was absolutely no time to examine the witnesses, judge! I had to send over to Part I for something to keep the court going. Otherwise our calendar would have broken down. You know how the press howls when that happens.”
He smiled confidentially at the girl.
“Well, you better finish it, I suppose!”
