Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 3 — page 166: what you’re looking at

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

448 sible to bring it out by any questioning of the witness—should the court see fit to waive the established preliminary.” “It is simply a case of placing the par- rot on the stand,” was Pendleton’s reply. “Then we will wait until it utters the cries that are significant.” “Such a proceeding is preposterous!” blustered Baldridge. The judge lifted a hand that silenced Baldridge, then addressed Pendleton. “The law is unmistakably clear,” he ruled. ‘‘ Testimony ssust be given under oath.” “T understand—” protested Pendleton, but court and counsel for the defense simul- taneously cut him short. “‘ If the prosecutor can find a way to put this gaudily-feathered species of poultry on its honor—” offered Baldridge magnani- mously, then sighed: “ But parrots are such notorious prevaricators!”’ Pendleton made his final appeal. ‘ You will allow a dictograph record,” he argued, “and we have here what is in its essence just that. In the interests of justice I offer this living tongue to giving voice to the words of the dead—” Pendleton turned in sudden fury on Baldridge: ‘“ And I warn you, sir,” he cried, “that the words will be heard! This _ bird is an imstrument of Fate, its speech the echo of an accusation from beyond the grave, an accusation that this cringmg wretch ’—he shook a finger at the dazed- looking Madden—“ this brute with blood upon his hands cannot escape!” Pendleton swung around to the jury with outflung arms: “It is Fate, gentlemen, Fate! Quibbling and chicanery might thwart the words of life, but nothing, abso- lutely nothing can stifle the voice of the dead!” For an instant there was utter silence. The tension increased as Madden caught his breath in a kind of half-sob. Then the parrot burst into a complaining storm of: ‘“‘ What’s the matter! What’s the matter!” There was 2 hysterical reaction through the court-room. But there was no need for the judge to bring down the’ gavel that he held suspended above his desk. Pen- dieton’s sudden outburst had taken the é ARGOSY- ALLSTORY WEEKLY. court by surprise; he, too, had been held spellbound. And now.- that it was over Pendleton faced him in deep humility. The judge cleared his throat. ‘“ The parrot will be removed from the court- room,” he directed an attendant, who took immediate steps to comply. Madden seemed to be tremendously re- lieved. The prosecutor’s words had in- vested the parrot with a supernatural qual- ity. The terror gripped him again when, as it was being carried past him, the bird blinked Then came one of those swift changes of front in the battle in which the miser- able Madden was the stake. / Unable to call the parrot as a witness, Pendleton had chosen the simple alterna- tive of submitting it in evidence as Exhibit E, along with the stained table-cloth, the _ loose brick, and other collected specimens. Then, one by one, the Maple Street neighbors were called to testify to the fact that never before the little old lady’s death had the bird cried “ Police! Robbers! Help!” Meanwhile the parrot kept up a string of talk, rehearsing every exclamation in its repertory except one—the fateful three words that the witnesses swore it had lat- terly used. Baldridge, to be sure, took every advan- tage of the parrot’s stubborn omission of — the words that were to be turned against his client. He charged the witnesses to tax their memories well, and chided Pendleton in a way that just escaped violation of the decorous conduct of the court.’ It was very effective, and was rapidly discounting Pen- | dleton’s labor to profit his point. By this time the parrot’s petulant out- cries were incessant. Jt was a most infer- ~ nally noisy parrot. Baldridge gravely suggested that the judge find the parrot in contempt of court —at which Juryman Number Nine chuc- kled audibly, and the whole twelve of them grinned. Pendleton was fighting desperately for time. He himself had heard the bird utter the cry that had changed the death of Mrs. Spalding from a pathetic, but not unusual tragedy of a lonely little old lady, to a 10 A «4 LNOOKS CO