power one could only too
plainly see the society ladies--who had witnessed for the
prosecution--did not possess.

"It may be asked, why the defendants, if they do not accomplish their
spells through black magic, style themselves 'The Sorcery Company'--and
so mislead the public? Obviously they do so purely for advertisement.
'The Sorcery Company' is an attractive title, a 'catchy' title, and
for this reason, which is surely a legitimate one, since it is
strictly in accordance with the prevailing custom of advertisement--the
firm of Hamar, Curtis and Kelson adopted it. They did not expect--they
were not so extraordinarily foolish as to expect--any one would take
them literally. They thought--as you and I think--that sorcery cannot
be taken seriously--that it is confined to fairy tales--and that, as a
fairy tale, it is potent only in the nursery."

This was the gist of counsel's speech for the defence. A number of
witnesses then gave evidence for the defendants; and when the
prosecuting counsel rose, it was only too evident that he was pleading
for a lost cause. The Court with ill-concealed derision barely
accorded him a hearing.

Two hours later the _Meteor_, always the first in the field when
sensations crop up, headed the first column of their front page with--

COLLAPSE OF THE SORCERY CASE
CRUSHING SPEECH BY GERALD KIRBY, K.C.
ACQUITTAL OF THE DEFENDANTS

"The Judge"--so the _Meteor_ reported--"expressed himself in absolute
agreement with the defending counsel. 'The action,' he said, 'ought
never to have been brought--it was sublimely ridiculous to accuse any
one of being in league with forces in the existence of which no sane
person could possibly believe.'"

Shiel was in despair. All chance of saving Gladys seemed to be fast
disappearing. He telephoned to her, and was answered by Miss Templeton.

"Gladys," she said, "had gone out with Hamar, who had motored down to
the cottage the moment the trial was over and the verdict known."

"I wish to God we had won the case," Shiel observed.

"So do I," Miss Templeton replied, "and so did Gladys--she regards her
position now as absolutely hopeless!"

"Tell her not to lose heart," Shiel answered hurriedly. "If I can't
find any other means, I'll--" but Miss Templeton rang off, and he
spoke to the wind.

Full of wrath against Lilian Rosenberg, he went round to see her, and
met her, just as she was entering her house.

"I've come to see you for the la