CHAPTER VI.
Next morning George Stratton was on the railway train speeding towardsCincinnati. As he handed to the conductor his mileage book, he did notsay to him, lightly transposing the old couplet--
"Here, railroad man, take thrice thy fee, For spirits twain do ride with me."
George Stratton was a practical man, and knew nothing of spirits, exceptthose which were in a small flask in his natty little valise.
When he reached Cincinnati, he made straight for the residence of thesheriff. He felt that his first duty was to become friends with such animportant official. Besides this, he wished to have an interview withthe prisoner. He had arranged in his mind, on the way there, just how hewould write a preliminary article that would whet the appetite of thereaders of the Chicago _Argus_ for any further developments that mightoccur during and after the trial. He would write the whole thing in theform of a story.
"Raising the veil."]
First, there would be a sketch of the life of Mrs. Brenton and herhusband. This would be number one, and above it would be the Romannumeral I. Under the heading II. would be a history of the crime. UnderIII. what had occurred afterwards--the incidents that had led suspiciontowards the unfortunate woman, and that sort of thing. Under the numeralIV. would be his interview with the prisoner, if he were fortunateenough to get one. Under V. he would give the general opinion ofCincinnati on the crime, and on the guilt or innocence of Mrs. Brenton.This article he already saw in his mind's eye occupying nearly half apage of the _Argus_. All would be in leaded type, and written in a styleand manner that would attract attention, for he felt that he wasfirst on the ground, and would not have the usual rush in preparinghis copy which had been the bane of his life. It would give the_Argus_ practically the lead in this case, which he was convincedwould become one of national importance.
The sheriff received him courteously, and, looking at the card hepresented, saw the name Chicago _Argus_ in the corner. Then he stoodvisibly on his guard--an attitude assumed by all wise officials whenthey find themselves brought face to face with a newspaper man; forthey know, however carefully an article may be prepared, it will likelycontain some unfortunate overlooked phrase which may have a damagingeffect in a future political campaign.
"I wanted to see you," began Stratton, coming straight to the point, "inreference to the Brenton murder."
"I may say at once," replied the sheriff, "that if you wish an interviewwith the prisoner, it is utterly impossible, because her lawyers, Benhamand Brown, have positively forbidden her to see a newspaper man."
"That shows," said Stratton, "they are wise men who understand theirbusiness. Nevertheless, I wish to have an interview with Mrs. Brenton.But what I wanted to say to you is this: I believe the case will be verymuch talked about, and that before many weeks are over. Of course youknow the standing the _Argus_ has in newspaper circles. What it sayswill have an influence, even over the Cincinnati press. I think you willadmit that. Now a great many newspaper men consider an official theirnatural enemy. I do not; at least, I do not until I am forced to. Anyreference that I may make to you I am more than willing to submit to youbefore it goes to Chicago. I will give you my word, if you want it, thatnothing will be said referring to your official position, or to yourselfpersonally, that you do not see before it appears in print. Of courseyou will be up for re-election. I never met a sheriff who wasn't."
The sheriff smiled at this, and did not deny it.
"Very well. Now, I may tell you my belief is that this case is goingto have a powerful influence on your re-election. Here is a young andpretty woman who is to be tried for a terrible crime. Whether she isguilty or innocent, public sympathy is going to be with her. If I werein your place, I would prefer to be known as her friend rather than asher enemy."
"My dear sir," said the sheriff, "my official position puts me in theattitude of neither friend nor enemy of the unfortunate woman. I havesimply a certain duty to do, and that duty I intend to perform."
"Oh, that's all right!" exclaimed the newspaper man, jauntily. "I, forone, am not going to ask you to take a step outside your duties; but anofficial may do his duty, and yet, at the same time, do a friendly actfor a newspaper man, or even for a prisoner. In the language of the oldchestnut, 'If you don't help me, don't help the bear.' That's all Iask."
"You maybe sure, Mr. Stratton, that anything I can do to help you Ishall be glad to do; and now let me give you a hint. If you want to seeMrs. Brenton, the best thing is to get permission from her lawyers. IfI were you I would not see Benham--he's rather a hard nut, Benham is,although you needn't tell him I said so. You get on the right side ofBrown. Brown has some political aspirations himself, and he does notwant to offend a man on so powerful a paper as the _Argus_, even if itis not a Cincinnati paper. Now, if you make him the same offer you havemade to me, I think it will be all right. If he sees your copy before itgoes into print, and if you keep your word with him that nothing willappear that he does _not_ see, I think you will succeed in getting aninterview with Mrs. Brenton. If you bring me a note from Brown, I shallbe very glad to allow you to see her."
Stratton thanked the sheriff for his hint. He took down in his note-bookthe address of the lawyers, and the name especially of Mr. Brown. Thetwo men shook hands, and Stratton felt that they understood each other.
When Mr. Stratton was ushered into the private office of Brown, andhanded that gentleman his card, he noticed the lawyer perceptibly freezeover.
"Ahem," said the legal gentleman; "you will excuse me if I say that mytime is rather precious. Did you wish to see me professionally?"
"Yes," replied Stratton, "that is, from a newspaper standpoint of theprofession."
"Ah," said the other, "in reference to what?"
"To the Brenton case."
"Well, my dear sir, I have had, very reluctantly, to refuse informationthat I would have been happy to give, if I could, to our own newspapermen; and so I may say to you at once that I scarcely think it willbe possible for me to be of any service to an outside paper like the_Argus_"
"Local newspaper men," said Stratton, "represent local fame. Thatyou already possess. I represent national fame, which, if you willexcuse my saying so, you do not yet possess. The fact that I am inCincinnati to-day, instead of in Chicago, shows what we Chicago peoplethink of the Cincinnati case. I believe, and the _Argus_ believes, thatthis case is going to be one of national importance. Now, let me ask youone question. Will you state frankly what your objection is to havinga newspaper man, for instance, interview Mrs. Brenton, or get anyinformation relating to this case from her or others whom you have thepower of controlling?"
"I shall answer that question," said Brown, "as frankly as you putit. You are a man of the world, and know, of course, that we are allselfish, and in business matters look entirely after our own interests.My interest in this case is to defend my client. Your interest inthis case is to make a sensational article. You want to get facts ifpossible, but, in any event, you want to write up a readable column ortwo for your paper. Now, if I allowed you to see Mrs. Brenton, she mightsay something to you, and you might publish it, that would not onlyendanger her chances, but would seriously embarrass us, as her lawyers,in our defence of the case."
"You have stated the objection very plainly and forcibly," saidStratton, with a look of admiration, as if the powerful arguments ofthe lawyer had had a great effect on him. "Now, if I understand yourargument, it simply amounts to this, that you would have no objection tomy interviewing Mrs. Brenton if you have the privilege of editing thecopy. In other words, if nothing were printed but what you approveof, you would not have the slightest hesitancy about allowing me thatinterview."
"No, I don't know that I would," admitted the lawyer.
"Very well, then. Here is my proposition to you: I am here to look afterthe interests of our paper in this particular case. The _Argus_ isprobably going to be the first paper outside of Cincinnati that willdevote a large amount of space to the Brenton trial, in additio
n to whatis received from the Associated Press dispatches. Now you can give me agreat many facilities in this matter if you care to do so, and in returnI am perfectly willing to submit to you every line of copy that concernsyou or your client before it is sent, and I give you my word of honourthat nothing shall appear but what you have seen and approved of. Ifyou want to cut out something that I think is vitally important, then Ishall tell you frankly that I intend to print it, but will modify it asmuch as I possibly can to suit your views."
"I see," said the lawyer. "In other words, as you have just remarked,I am to give you special facilities in this matter, and then, when youfind out some fact which I wish kept secret, and which you have obtainedbecause of the facilities I have given to you, you will quite franklytell me that it must go in, and then, of course, I shall be helplessexcept to debar you from any further facilities, as you call them. No,sir, I do not care to make any such bargain."
"Well, suppose I strike out that clause of agreement, and say to youthat I will send nothing but what you approve of, would you then writeme a note to the sheriff and allow me to see the prisoner?"
"I am sorry to say"--the lawyer hesitated for a moment, and glanced atthe card, then added--"Mr. Stratton, that I do not see my way clear togranting your request."
"I think," said Stratton, rising, "that you are doing yourself aninjustice. You are refusing--I may as well tell you first as last--whatis a great privilege. Now, you have had some experience in yourbusiness, and I have had some experience in mine, and I beg to informyou that men who are much more prominent in the history of their countrythan any one I can at present think of in Cincinnati, have tried to balkme in the pursuit of my business, and have failed."
"In that matter, of course," said Brown, "I must take my chances. Idon't see the use of prolonging this interview. As you have been sofrank as to--I won't say threaten, perhaps warn is the better word--asyou have been so good as to warn me, I may, before we part, just give_you_ a word of caution. Of course we, in Cincinnati, are perfectlywilling to admit that Chicago people are the smartest on earth, but Imay say that if you print a word in your paper which is untrue and whichis damaging to our side of the case, or if you use any methods thatare unlawful in obtaining the information you so much desire, you willcertainly get your paper into trouble, and you will run some littlepersonal risk yourself."
"Well, as you remarked a moment ago, Mr. Brown, I shall have to take thechances of that. I am here to get the news, and if I don't succeed itwill be the first time in my life."
"Very well, sir," said the lawyer. "I wish you good evening."
"Just one thing more," said the newspaper man, "before I leave you."
"My dear sir," said the lawyer, impatiently, "I am very busy. I'vealready given you a liberal share of my time. I must request that thisinterview end at once."
"I thought," said Mr. Stratton, calmly, "that perhaps you might beinterested in the first article that I am going to write. I shall devoteone column in the _Argus_ of the day after to-morrow to your defence ofthe case, and whether your theory of defence is a tenable one or not."
Mr. Brown pushed back his chair and looked earnestly at the young man.That individual was imperturbably pulling on his gloves, and at themoment was buttoning one of them.
"Our _defence_!" cried the lawyer. "What do you know of our defence?"
"My dear sir," said Stratton, "I know _all_ about it."
"Sir, that is impossible. Nobody knows what our defence is to be exceptMr. Benham and myself."
"And Mr. Stratton, of the Chicago _Argus_," replied the young man, as hebuttoned his coat.
"May I ask, then, what the defence is?"
"Certainly," answered the Chicago man. "Your defence is that Mr. Brentonwas insane, and that he committed suicide."
Even Mr. Brown's habitual self-control, acquired by long years oftraining in keeping his feelings out of sight, for the moment desertedhim. He drew his breath sharply, and cast a piercing glance at the youngman before him, who was critically watching the lawyer's countenance,although he appeared to be entirely absorbed in buttoning his overcoat.Then Mr. Brown gave a short, dry laugh.
"I have met a bluff before," he said carelessly; "but I should like toknow what makes you think that such is our defence?"
"_Think_!" cried the young man. "I don't think at all; I _know_ it."
"How do you know it?"
"Well, for one thing, I know it by your own actions a moment ago. Whatfirst gave me an inkling of your defence was that book which is onyour table. It is Forbes Winslow on the mind and the brain; a veryinteresting book, Mr. Brown, _very_ interesting indeed. It treats ofsuicide, and the causes and conditions of the brain that will lead upto it. It is a very good book, indeed, to study in such a case. Goodevening, Mr. Brown. I am sorry that we cannot co-operate in thismatter."
Stratton turned and walked toward the door, while the lawyer gazed afterhim with a look of helpless astonishment on his face. As Stratton placedhis hand on the door knob, the lawyer seemed to wake up as from a dream.
"Stop!" he cried; "I will give you a letter that will admit you to Mrs.Brenton."