Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

- That afternoon Janet let herself go. She wrote her whole soul into her story. Laid _ particular stress on the web that could wind itself about one once they were within the toils of the law; drew a picture oi the frail defendant; her helplessness in a foreign country; her appealing wistfulness on the stand; the courage of the other girl who had braved publicity that justice might be served; closing with a denunciation of cer- tain witnesses for the State who had proved themselves perjurers. This done, she put on her hat and coat and walked stormily out of the office. Job or no job, she’d done what she thought was right. Wade was waiting for her when she ar- rived the next morning. “I see you’ve tried the case and returned a verdict,” he said scathingly. “I’ve opened more’n a hundred letters already from sentimental fools, all raving over the injustice of our courts. Want the Blade to start a crusade to end the persecution of innocent women. Innocent, bah! I told you to go easy on that sympathy stuff. Your first articles were fine, but this last is maudlin. We'll be the laughing stock of the town, once the jury returns its verdict!” “ Mr. Wade ’—Janet’s eyes were blazing —‘ you sent me to this trial instructed to write it from a woman’s standpoint. I lis- tened carefully to the evidence, and only be- cause I used the greatest restraint was I able to write those first stories. Yesterday I wrote what I thought and felt, regardless of the job. I may be wrong, but I intend to be sincere. If you want me to quit, all right, but I’m going to say what I think is right if I continue.” “Well, to-day’s the last day. Finish it out. I suppose a lot of sentimental women are waiting for you to tell them how to think, so get busy. But, remember, there’s a jury on the job and it’s their privilege to bring in a verdict to-day, please God!” He wenteback to the desk, and Janet thor- oughly disgruntled, stuffed a few sheets of copy paper into her bag and started for the courthouse. Just wait until Mme. Le Montague is acquitted—TIll walk up and tell him to take the old job. Ii he hasn’t any more confidence in my judgment than that, I don’t want to work for him.” JUDGMENTS. A ee = “ a pe Mme. Le Montague smiled brightly and waved a small white hand in her direction as she sat down beside her attorney, and once Rackham turned and bowed graciously to her. The entire morning was spent by Rack- ham in a résumé of his client’s case; and the State’s attorney consumed the afternoon with his side of the story. Finally after a day in which she found it increasingly diffi- cult to keep her mind on the matter in hand, as hour succeeded hour, the case was turned over to the jury. Janet decided to wait in the court room until the verdict was returned. She could not face Wade again and dared not write her story until she knew what the answer was to be. Mme. Le Montague left the room, but before she went she leaned over and thanked. Miss Murdock for the interest she was tak- ing in -her case. “Tt has been such a comfort,” she said — in her halting English, “to feel that some > women understand the position I am in. Your articles have been very won-dair-ful!” And Rackham had added to this: “ Yes, Miss Murdock, you seem to have sized the situation up exactly. I have been very much interested in your daily story.” How Janet wished that Wade might have - heard this. Rackham’s opinion was not to be taken lightly, whatever he might think of Mme. Le Montague’s. Janet read the evening papers and wait- ed. Briscom went out and bought them sandwiches and coffee and still they waited. All sorts of wagers were being laid by the reporters and the attendants as to the out- come of the trial, and Janet listened and laughed indulgently at the banter of the crowd. Once Briscom asked her how she was getting along with Wade. “Oh, we had a real run-in this morning. I’ve thought pretty seriously of resigning — once the trial is over.” “Don’t you do it. Don’t let him scare you out. A fellow who worked with him out in St. Louis tells me that he’s got a bug on convicting women. He got up against some kind of a feminine panhandler out there, nine or ten years ago and she got a cool thousand away from him. He never made much of o- heler. booke cant.