Read The Miracle on 34th Street for Free Online Page B

chamber once more. "A Mr. Bedford here to see you, sir? He says he's Kriss Kringle's attorney."
    Collins and Judge Harper gave each other a puzzled look. "Send him in," Judge Harper said.
    Bryan strode into the room. "Your Honor, there seems to be undue haste in this case. I wish to protect my client's rights, as I'm sure you do."
    Judge Harper nodded. "Mr. Bedford, this is Prosecutor Collins."
    Bryan quickly shook Collins's hand, then barged on, "If Your Honor please, I request a formal hearing to which I may bring witnesses."
    Judge Harper looked at Collins. Collins shrugged. "All right," Harper said. "Thursday morning, nine o'clock."
    "Thank you, sir," Bryan said with a grin.
    He nodded to Collins and walked briskly out of the chamber.
    "I thought you said the old man didn't have an attorney," Judge Harper remarked.
    "Does it really matter?" Collins said with a shrug. "It's a hearing, not a jury trial. You're the one who has to be convinced."
    Judge Harper chuckled. This Bedford guy would have to do a lot of convincing.
    After the courthouse, Bryan went straight to Bellevue. He was shown to Kringle's room by a hospital orderly.
    "Do you believe Mr. Kringle is dangerous?" Bryan asked.
    "No, not this guy," the orderly replied. "Maybe he's a little off the rails, but he's no thug. If he wants to call himself Santa Claus, then God bless him."
    The orderly unlocked Kringle's door. "Thanks, Bryan said, ducking into the room.
    Click . The door was locked again.
    Bryan shook his head. They were locking Kriss Kringle inside. As if he were a menace.
    A gasp caught in Bryan's throat when he saw Kringle. Some menace. He sat in a chair, glassy-eyed and slumped, staring out a window.
    "Hello, Kriss," Bryan said
    Kringle looked at Bryan blankly. Slowly his eyes focused, and he gave a weak smile. "Hello, Bryan. What brings you out on a miserable day like this?"
    "A friend in need," Bryan replied.
    Kringle's smile widened.
    "You failed your mental exam on purpose, didn't you?" Bryan asked.
    "Why would I do that?" Kringle replied.
    "I don't know. Maybe you've served people long enough. Maybe you've given all you have to give."
    Kringle shook his head. "No."
    "Then why did you do it? The charges against you were dropped. The man you hit suffered no injury. You could have been out of here if you'd passed your exam."
    "I've disgraced myself," Kringle said.
    "I read your transcript. You defended your honor. You stood up for the dignity of every child. That isn't a disgrace, Kriss. That's decency."
    "If I'm seen as a crazy old man, the public will dismiss me and the good name of Santa Claus will be spared."
    "That's not true, Kriss," Bryan insisted. "If not for you, there is no Santa Claus. You are him. Crazy or not, here or gone, you're Santa Claus ."
    Kriss Kringle shook his head. "Only if the children believe that I am. And what kind of Santa Claus would they be believing in, after seeing and knowing what happened last night?"
    "Think about last night," Bryan said. "A man was there to photograph the incident. The man you hit was the man you replaced. One of the men who held you is an employee of Shopper's Express. The cops told me this, Kriss. The cops believe in you. A lot of people do. More will when we're finished."
    "Finished with what?" Kringle asked.
    "We're going to court," Bryan answered. "There's a hearing Thursday to decide if you're to be committed. I'm going to defend you. We've got three days. Together we're going to prove that there is a Santa Claus and you are him!"
    Kriss Kringle slapped his knees and stood up. "I'm ready, counselor!"
    Dorey barged into Shellhammer's office. She smacked down a piece of paper on his desk. "Has this press release gone out yet?" she asked angrily.
    "At noon," Shellhammer replied.
    "Cole's is going to deny any responsibility for Kriss?"
    "We're not going to endorse what he did. He's obviously unbalanced, Dorey. You said it yourself."
    "And if I remember correctly," Dorey shot back, " you said it