St. Landry democrat., 1885-02-07

t1icting with an equally sincere intoler-
ance of restraint, creates endless incon-
gruities; hence Jim's trial promised a
fund of entertainment for all.
Early in the morning the prisoner
called for his brother. When that
worthy arrived the amateur jailer left
them alone, stopping only long enough
to hear Jim's salutation:
WAL, old man, reckon it looks
to you as if he'd run agin four aces,
don't it?'
An hour later when the guard stuck
his head in and called t'time!'' he heard
Jim's parting Injunction:
think of Maria, oil man. She would
like for you to do it. -
''See yer," broke in the iailer; ''don't
yer go to ringin' no female in on this
deal. 1t won't 90.
At the examination that morning
man who had acted as constable in the
States, and as such was supposed to
have sounded the depths of all legal
lore, presided. The proceedings were
erratic and uncertain, but vigorous.
Gold Dollar related with much circum-
locution how, on dropping into Jim's
shack, he had discovered him kneeling
over cavity in the earth under his bed
which contained the stolen property;
that he acted in very suspicious man
ner and failed to account satisfactorily
for his compromising situation. He
supplemented his testimony with sew
eral opinions, which were unobiected to
and carried all the weight of fact, one
of which was that jim had robbed HIM
self on both occasions to divert suspi-
cion. The prosecution rested after a
large part of the property had been
identified, and there was a strong incli-
nation among the boys to go out and
hang him at once.
Chip in, Jim, eff you want to take
hand, 2" remarked the ''Judge."
Up to this moment he had shown lit
| tie uneasiness, but a shade of worry
now crossed his face as, peering among
| those assembled, he was unable to dis
cover his brother. Finally catching
glimpse of the blank, owlish face on the
outskirts his nervousness left him, and,
settling back on the key which formed
his seat, a premonitory CLEAN Of tri-
un1ph lit his cold, milky eyes. So when
| the g Judge asked for his defense he
indifferently remarked, motioning to-
ward his brother:
"Call hin"
The preliminaries over, the g Judge,
who usurped the Office of prosecutor,
asked the witness what he knew of the
stealing.
Jim didn't do it" he hesitatingly
ventured.
This called forth g roar of derision.
! 1, >lN1,s Cd l1a ~
have seen boy with q half-learned les
son, who, on being called upon to re-
cite, half covertly turns and appeals
to classmate for help. just SO the
witness looked at the prisoner. The
latter leaned over with slight look of
anxiety. He whispered:
g Maria. =
The witness heard and stifened up.
The prisoner breathed easier again.
EFF jim didn't do it, who did?e
said the court, with the air of one put
ting poser.
The man hesitated and cast sudden
/ glance at his brother. The glitter in
The steely eyes was remorseless. In the
same listless, impersonal manner which
characterized all his answers he
dropped two words:
. did. .
s.You derned onery cuss!" remarked
the Judge as a yell went up from the
boys. Several derringers were drawn.
Here and there a bowie cleaned like
the fang of a wolf. !" Pious Moses
drew from the bosom Of his shirt a
hair lariat, which he had brought for
emergencies, and was promptly fined
for contempt for thereby insinuating
i that the court was unable to do its own
hanging:
j When the excitement subsidized the
remainder of the legal proceedings We're
i put through with rush. Jim was ex-
onerated by his brothers testimony
from all completely in or knowledge OF
the crimes.
.As intimated, gents, at the opening
of the game, had the call on the facts
to prove you was Workin' pocket,
remarked that person, who, released
and smiling, stepped down and mixed
with the auditors; but not word to the
brother who took his place. The newly
made prisoner looked after him with d
hopeless, yearning, hungry stare as he
4 edged his way out and then relapsed
| into a state of apparent indifference.
The two men never again saw each
i other.
The boys adjourned to .'Lucreesh s,
to drink on the money ''Pious Moses
had turned in to the court to purge him
self of contempt and there they mag
unanimously resolved, in consideration
of the handsome way in which Jim
brother had come to the scratch and
acknowledged his guilt, to let tender
foot law take its course.
u - 4l,o, fnrrr cInrc hnd 1aassnd which