Page:That Royle Girl (Balmer).pdf/262

 mind was wholly reliable, in contrast to his emotions which confused and impeded him. His heart was beating in thumps which obtruded themselves into his thought.

"You have a clear recollection," he challenged the Royle girl, looking up and finding her eyes upon him, "of the circumstances of your first meeting with Frederic Ketlar?"

"Very clear, Mr. Clarke."

"You have told the truth in regard to those circumstances?" Calvin questioned, deliberately, and at once, as he expected, Elmen was upon his feet, crying loudly, "I object!"

"Your honor," said Calvin, advancing, "the entire question is the veracity and character of this witness. The defense has been permitted to go into personal relations in considerable detail in the endeavor to establish one impression which I mean to show is contrary to the fact."

"I object," repeated Elmen, "to the form of the question."

"I will change it," said Calvin. "Do you wish to alter any of your evidence in regard to your first meeting with Frederic Ketlar?" he asked the witness.

"I object!" shouted Elmen.

"Overruled," said the judge.

"I save an exception to the ruling!" declared Elmen loudly and gazed pointedly at the court stenographer to see that he was writing it into the record.

Joan Daisy looked to the judge who nodded to her to answer and she turned to Assistant State's Attorney Clarke.

"No," she said.

"Was the occasion of your leaving the hotel actually a matter of eviction because of nonpayment of bills?" asked Calvin.