and Mrs. Dyckman
married. But they must hate each other by now and that would mean
lifelong misery and sin for both. So I think we will save valuable
time and satisfy everybody best by giving a verdict of guilty. It
won't hurt Dyckman any."
"What about Mrs. Cheever?"
"Oh, she's gotta lotta money."
None of the jury had ever had so much as that and it was equivalent
to a good time and the answer to all prayers, so they did not
fret about Charity's future. On the first ballot, after a proper
reminiscence of the amusing incidents of the trial they proceeded
to a decision. The verdict was unanimous that Jim was guilty as
charged. Charity was not to get her forty dollars nor her good name.
When the jurors filed back into the box the court came to attention
and listened to the verdict.
Jim and Charity were dazed as if some footpad had struck them
over the head with a slingshot. Kedzie was hysterical with relief.
She had suffered, too, throughout the trial. And now she had been
vindicated.
She went to the jury and she shook hands with each member and
thanked him.
"You know I accept the verdict as just one big beautiful birthday
present." It was not her birthday, but it sounded well, and she
added, "I shall always remember your kindly faces. Never can I
forget one of you."
Two days later she met one of the unforgetable jurors on the street
and did not recognize him. He had been one-twelfth of her knightly
champions, but she cut him dead as an impertinent stranger when he
tried to speak to her.
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