o hammer his desk with his gavel,
and to threaten both with contempt of court, in order to bring them to a
sense of order. Indeed while Payderson was highly incensed, the jury was
amused and interested.

"You gentlemen will have to stop this, or I tell you now that you will
both be heavily fined. This is a court of law, not a bar-room. Mr.
Steger, I expect you to apologize to me and your colleague at once. Mr.
Shannon, I must ask that you use less aggressive methods. Your manner
is offensive to me. It is not becoming to a court of law. I will not
caution either of you again."

Both lawyers apologized as lawyers do on such occasions, but it really
made but little difference. Their individual attitudes and moods
continued about as before.

"What did he say to you," asked Shannon of Stener, after one of these
troublesome interruptions, "on that occasion, October 9th last, when
he came to you and demanded the loan of an additional three hundred
thousand dollars? Give his words as near as you can remember--exactly,
if possible."

"Object!" interposed Steger, vigorously. "His exact words are not
recorded anywhere except in Mr. Stener's memory, and his memory of
them cannot be admitted in this case. The witness has testified to the
general facts."

Judge Payderson smiled grimly. "Objection overruled," he returned.

"Exception!" shouted Steger.

"He said, as near as I can remember," replied Stener, drumming on the
arms of the witness-chair in a nervous way, "that if I didn't give him
three hundred thousand dollars he was going to fail, and I would be poor
and go to the penitentiary."

"Object!" shouted Stager, leaping to his feet. "Your honor, I object
to the whole manner in which this examination is being conducted by the
prosecution. The evidence which the district attorney is here trying to
extract from the uncertain memory of the witness is in defiance of all
law and precedent, and has no definite bearing on the facts of the case,
and could not disprove or substantiate whether Mr. Cowperwood thought
or did not think that he was going to fail. Mr. Stener might give one
version of this conversation or any conversation that took place at this
time, and Mr. Cowperwood another. As a matter of fact, their versions
are different. I see no point in Mr. Shannon's line of inquiry,
unless it is to prejudice the jury's minds towards accepting certain
allegations which the prosecution is pleased to make and which it cannot
po