"As the child is an incorrigible liar and her father an incorrigible drunkard, Mr. Coroner, I think it only fair to the Company that their aspersions and reference to us be stricken off the records;" and the coroner instructed the stenographer to erase all reference to Lizzie's babbling.
The old frontiersman sat back with a dazed feeling that while he had expressed anticipation of trouble at the mine, he had failed to give proof or reason for that anticipation.
Brydges' evidence was innocuous to the very end. The Sheriff had whispered something to the coroner.
"Is there any reason why anyone in the Valley might harbor a grudge against the sheep rancher?" asked the coroner.
Brydges hesitated as one who could say much if he would. "Yes, there is," he answered lowering his eyes and flushing dully.
It was the attorney again who was on his feet.
"Mr. Coroner, the dead cannot defend themselves. Out of respect to the deceased gentleman and the member of his family present, I think that line of enquiry ought not to be recorded or pursued."
"The second time they have said that; what do they mean?" Eleanor asked
Mrs. Williams in a whisper.
Matthews was hanging on to his chair to hold himself down and the news editor had leaned across Eleanor to speak to Wayland: "Good God, Wayland! Don't you see the drift? Can't you head that off?"
"Leave 't' me," muttered the old frontiersman gripping his chair.