CHAPTER XXII
THE CHILDREN'S COURT
Judge Cowles was a gentleman of what is called the "old-fashioned"type. He was always gentle, in spite of the difficult human questionshe was constantly called upon to decide, and which necessarily couldnot always be decided to suit both parties involved in the legaldispute. But when Mrs. Salvey walked into his room and took a seatbeside Cecilia Thayer he started up in surprise. He had known Mrs.Salvey long ago, when she lived by the sea with her father-in-law,Captain Salvey. Many a time had judge Cowles ridden in the little boatthat the captain took such pride in demonstrating, for the boat wasrigged up in an original way, and the captain was choice about hiscompanions.
"Why, Mrs. Salvey!" he exclaimed, with the most cordial voice. "I amsurprised to see you!"
Mrs. Salvey bowed, but did not trust herself to speak. She felthumiliated, wronged, and was now conscious of that deeper pang--stifledjustice. Judge Cowles would be fair--and she would be brave.
Cecilia, young and inexperienced as she was, felt a glad surprise inthe words of the judge; if he knew Mrs. Salvey he must know her to be agood mother.
A man of extremely nervous type, who continually rattled and fussedwith the typewritten pages he held in his hand, represented theChildren's Society. Evidently he had prepared quite an argument,Cecilia thought. Close to him sat Rob Roland, and the stout man whomthe motor girls had met on the road after the robbery of the mailbag.Cecilia recognized him at once, and he had the audacity to bow slightlyto her.
There were one or two young fellows down in the corner of the room,sitting so idly and so flagrantly unconcerned that Cecilia knew theymust be newspaper men--time enough for them to show interest whenanything interesting occurred.
The case just disposed of--that of a small boy who had been accused ofviolating the curfew law--was settled with a reprimand; and as thecrestfallen little chap slouched past Cecilia, she could not resist thetemptation of putting out her hand and tugging pleasantly at his coatsleeve.
"You'll be a good boy now," she said, with her most powerful smile.But the agent of the Children's Society, he with the threatening papersin his hand, called to the boy to sit down, and the tone of voice hurtCecilia more than the insolent look turned fully upon her by Rob Roland.
The judge was ready for the next case--it was that of the Children'sSociety against Mrs. Salvey. Cecilia could hear the hum from thenewspaper corner cease, she saw Mr. Reed, he of Roland, Reed & Company,and the same man who had just bowed to her, take some papers from hispocket.
Then the judge announced that he was ready to hear the case.
"This woman, your honor," began the nervous man, "is charged withwilfully neglecting her child in the matter of withholding the childfrom relatives who have for years been both supporting and rendering tothe child necessary medical aid."
Mrs. Salvey's face flushed scarlet. Cecilia was almost upon her feet.But the others seemed to take the matter as the most ordinaryoccurrence, and seemed scarcely interested.
"This child," went on the agent, "is a cripple"--again Cecilia wantedto shout--"and mentally deficient."
"That is false!" cried Mrs. Salvey. "She is mentally brilliant."
"One minute, madam," said the judge gently.
"To prove that the child has hallucinations," pursued the man, readingfrom his papers, "I would like to state that for some years she haskept a book--called a promise book. In this she collected the names ofall the persons she could induce to put them down, claiming that whenthe right person should sign she would recover some old, imaginarypiece of furniture, which, she claimed, held the spirit of her departedgrandfather."
The man stopped to smile at his own wit. Cecilia and Mrs. Salvey weretoo surprised to breathe--they both wanted to "swallow" every breath ofair in the room at one gulp.
"And the specific charge?" asked the judge, showing some impatience.
"Well, your honor, we contend that a mother who will wilfully take sucha child away from medical care, and hide her away from those who arequalified to care for her, must be criminally negligent."
The judge raised his head in that careful manner characteristic ofserious thought.
"And what do you ask?" he inquired.
Cecilia thought she or Mrs. Salvey would never get a chance tospeak--to deny those dreadful accusations.
"We ask, your honor," and the man's voice betrayed confidence, "thatthis child be turned over to the Children's Society. We will report tothe court, and make any desired arrangements to satisfy the mother."
Turn Wren over to a public society! This, then, was the motive--thoseRolands wanted to get the little one away from her own mother.
"Mrs. Salvey," called the judge, and the white-faced woman stood up.As she did so, Mr. Reed, the lawyer, advanced to a seat quite close tothat occupied by the judge. Rob Roland shifted about withpoorly--hidden anxiety.
"You have heard the charge," said the judge very slowly. "We will bepleased to hear your answer."
"One minute, your honor," interrupted Lawyer Reed. "We wish to addthat on the day that our doctor had decided upon a hospital operationfor the child, the child was secretly smuggled off in an automobile bya young girl, and a young sporting character of this town."
Had Cecilia Thayer ever been in a courtroom before, she might haveknown that lawyers resort to all sorts of tricks to confuse and evenanger witnesses. But, as it was, she only felt that something had hither--a blow that strikes the heart and threatens some dreadful thing.The next moment the blood rushed to her cheeks, relieved that pressure,and she was ready--even for such an insulting charge.
Mrs. Salvey was again called, and this time she was not interrupted.She told in a straight-forward manner of the illness of her littlegirl, of her own difficulty in obtaining sufficient money to have thechild treated medically, and of how her husband's cousin, WilburRoland, senior member of the firm of Roland, Reed & Company, had comeforward and offered her assistance.
"Then why," asked the judge, "did you take the child away?"
Mrs. Salvey looked at Cecilia. Lawyer Reed was on his feet and readyto interrupt, but the judge motioned him to silence.
"I took her away because I feared the treatment was not what sheneeded, and I had others offered," replied Mrs. Salvey.
"Other medical treatment?" asked the judge.
"Yes," answered the mother.
"Then she is being cared for?" and judge Cowles looked sharply at thechildren's agent.
"Most decidedly," answered Mrs. Salvey with emphasis. "And not only isshe better, but can now stand--she has not been able to do that in tenyears."
"It's a lie!" shouted Rob Roland, so angered as to forget himselfentirely. "She is a hopeless cripple."
"Have you any witness?" asked the attorney of Mrs. Salvey, while thejudge frowned at Rob and warned him to be careful or he might be finedfor contempt of court.
The mother turned to Cecilia. "This young girl can corroborate mystatement," she answered.
As Cecilia stood up the reporters actually left their places and veryquietly glided up to seats near the trembling girl.
"Would they make a scandal of it?" she was thinking. "That lawyer'sremark about Jack Kimball?"
"Your name?" asked the judge.
She replied in a steady voice.
"And your occupation?"
Cecilia hesitated. She was not yet ready to make public the ambitionshe had so earnestly worked for.
"A student," she replied finally.
"Of what?" asked Rob Roland.
"Young man," said the judge sternly, "I am hearing this case, and anyfurther discourtesy from you will be considered as contempt."
The youth smiled ironically. He was already accustomed to such usage,and did not mind it in the least if only he could gain his point, butthis time he had failed.
"You know the child--Wren Salvey?" asked the judge.
"Yes. I have been in close attendance upon her for some weeks,"replied Cecilia.
/> "And you can state that she is improved in health since leaving hermother's house?"
"Very much improved. If she had not lost a very dear treasure, overwhich she grieves, I believe she would be almost well soon."
Cecilia looked very young and very pretty. She spoke with theconviction of candor that counts so much to honest minds, and judgeCowles encouraged her with a most pleasant manner. The newspaper menwere scribbling notes rapidly. Rob Roland was looking steadily at thechandelier at the risk of injury to his neck--so awkward was hisposition.
"You are the young lady who removed the child?" questioned themagistrate.
"Yes," replied Cecilia.
"And her accomplice?" shouted Rob Roland questioningly.
"Leave the room!" ordered the judge. "I think there is a differentcase behind this than the one we are hearing. I shall inquire into it,and, for the good of the child and her wronged mother, I shall order athorough investigation. What motive have those who brought up thisalleged case? There is absolutely no grounds for this action. Thecase is dismissed."
So suddenly did the relief come to Cecilia that she almost collapsed.She looked at Mrs. Salvey, who was pressing her handkerchief to hereyes.
"It is all right," whispered Cecilia. "Oh, I am so glad!"
A stir in the room attracted their attention. Cecilia turned and facedJack Kimball.
Jack was hurrying up to the judge's chair, and scarcely stopped togreet Cecilia.
"Mr. Robinson wishes you to detain these gentlemen a few minutes," saidJack to judge Cowles. "He is on his way here."
A messenger was sent to the corridor after Rob Roland. The otherlawyers were discussing some papers, and in no hurry to leave.
Presently Mr. Robinson and two other gentlemen entered. The face ofthe twins' father was flushed, and he was plainly much excited.
"I have just heard from my daughters," he began, "who are away on amotor tour. They state that the day my papers were taken from themailbag they met on the road a man answering the description of thisgentleman," indicating Mr. Reed. "They described him exactly, hisdisfigured thumb being easily remembered. Now the young fellow who was'held-up' that day, and who has been sick since in consequence, alsosays he felt, while blindfolded, that same one-jointed thumb. Furtherthan that," and Mr. Robinson was actually panting for breath, "my girlscan state, and prove, that this same man was at a tea-house nearBreakwater discussing papers, which the young girls who conduct thetea-house plainly saw. The papers were stamped with the seals of mypatent lawyers."
Rob Roland was clutching the back of the seat he stood near. Thelawyer accused, Mr. Reed, had turned a sickly pallor.
Jack Kimball stepped up. "There is present," he said, "one of themotor girls who was on the road at that time. She may be able toidentify this man."
What followed was always like a dream to Clip--for, leaving offlegalities, we may again call her by that significant name. She facedthe man to whom she had talked on the road, he who had wanted to helpher with her runabout when she was unable to manage it herself. It wasdirectly after Paul Hastings left them, and within a short time of thehappening which had meant so much to Hazel's brother. Clip told this,and, strange to say, the lawyer made no attempt to deny any part of herstatement.
"We are prepared to answer when the case is called," he said. "But itseems to me, Robinson, you went a long way for detectives. Did not themotor girls also tell you that they met me on the road to Breakwatertwo days ago?"
"Judge, I demand those papers!" called Mr. Robinson. "This fellow doesnot deny he took them."
"When the ladies leave the room," said the judge quietly, with thatcourteous manner that made Clip want to run up to him and throw herarms about his neck, "we may discuss this further. We are indebted tothe young motor girl for her identification."
When Clip took Mrs. Salvey out they went directly to the Kimball home,nor were they now afraid of being followed by the threatening andinsulting Rob Roland.