the fortune hunter(闯世界的人)-第28章
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‘‘Your Honor；'' said Hanlon hurriedly； ‘‘that is the woman upon whose
statement we made our case。 She told us she saw Hilda Brauner coming
from the family entrance just before the alarm was given。''
‘‘Are you sure she's the woman you saw？'' said the magistrate to
Wielert。 ‘‘Be careful what you say。''
‘‘That's her；'' answered Wielert。 ‘‘I see her often。 She live across
the street from Meinert's。''
‘‘Officer； bring the woman forward；'' commanded the magistrate。
Sophie； blue with terror； was almost dragged to the platform beside
Hilda。 Hilda looked stunned； dazed。
‘‘Speak out！'' ordered the magistrate。
‘‘You have heard what this witness testified。''
Sophie was weeping violently。 ‘‘It's all a mistake；'' she cried in a low；
choked voice。 ‘‘I was scared。 I didn't mean to tell the police Hilda was
there。 I was afraid they'd think I did it if I didn't say something。''
‘‘Tell us what you saw。'' The magistrate's voice was severe。 ‘‘We
want the whole truth。''
‘‘I was at our window。 And I saw Hilda come along and go in at the
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THE FORTUNE HUNTER
family entrance over at Meinert's。 And I'd seen Mr。 Feuerstein go in the
front door about an hour before。 Hilda came out and went away。 She
looked so queer that I wanted to see。 I ran across the street and looked in。
Mr。 Feuerstein was sitting there with a knife in his hand。 And all at once
he stood up and stabbed himself in the neckand there was bloodand
he fellandI ran away。''
‘‘And did the police come to you and threaten you？'' asked the
magistrate。
‘‘Your Honor；'' protested Captain Hanlon with an injured air； ‘‘SHE
came to US。''
‘‘Is that true？'' asked the magistrate of Sophie。
Sophie wept loudly。 ‘‘Your Honor；'' Hanlon went on； ‘‘she came to
me and said it was her duty to tell me； though it involved her friend。 She
said positively that this girl went in； stayed several minutes； then came out
looking very strange； and that immediately afterward there was the
excitement。 Of course； we believed her。''
‘‘Of course；'' echoed the magistrate ironically。 ‘‘It gave you an
opportunity for an act of oppression。''
‘‘I didn't mean to get Hilda into trouble。 I swear I didn't；'' Sophie
exclaimed。 ‘‘I was scared。 I didn't know what I was doing。 I swear I
didn't！''
Hilda's look was pity； not anger。 ‘‘Oh； Sophie；'' she said brokenly。
‘‘What did your men do with the letter Feuerstein wrote？'' asked the
magistrate of Hanlon suspiciously。
‘‘Your Honor； we'' Hanlon looked round nervously。
Wielert； who had been gradually rising in his own estimation； as he
realized the importance of his part in the proceedings； now pushed forward；
his face flushed with triumph。 ‘‘I know where it is；'' he said eagerly。
‘‘When I ran for the police I mail it。''
There was a tumult of hysterical laughter； everybody seeking relief
from the strain of what had gone before。 The magistrate rapped down the
noise and called for Doctor Wharton。 While he was giving his
technical explanation a note was handed up to the bench。 The magistrate
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THE FORTUNE HUNTER
read：
GERMAN THEATER； 3 September。 YOUR
HONORI hasten to send you the inclosed letter which I found in my
mail this morning。 It seems to have an important bearing on the hearing
in the Feuerstein case； which I see by the papers comes up before you to…
day。 Very truly yours；
WILLIAM KONIGSMARCK；
Manager。
The magistrate handed the inclosure to a clerk； who was a German。
‘‘Read it aloud；'' he said。 And the clerk； after a few moments' preparation；
slowly read in English：
To the Public：
Before oblivion swallows meone second； I beg！
I have sinned； but I have expiated。 I have lived bravely； fighting
adversity and the malice which my superior gifts from nature provoked。
I can live no longer with dignity。 So； proud and fearless to the last； I
accept defeat and pass out。
I forgive my friends。 I forget my enemies。
Exit Carl Feuerstein； soldier of fortune； man of the world。 A sensitive
heart that was crushed by the cruelty of men and the kindness of women
has ceased to beat。
CARL FEUERSTEIN。
P。 S。 DEAR。 MR。 KONIGSMARCK Please send a copy of the
above to the newspapers； English as well as German。
C。 F。
The magistrate beamed his kindliest upon Hilda。 ‘‘The charge
against you is absurd。 Your arrest was a crime。 You are free。''
Hilda put her hand on Otto's arm。 ‘‘Let us go；'' she murmured
wearily。
As they went up the aisle hand in hand the crowd stood and cheered
again and again； the magistrate did not touch his gavelhe was nodding
vigorous approval。 Hilda held Otto's hand more closely and looked all
round。 And her face was bright indeed。
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Thus the shadow of Mr。 Feuerstein of vanity and false emotion； of
pose and pretense； passed from her life。 Straight and serene before her
lay the pathway of ‘‘work and love and home。''
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