The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-01-30
HOW THEJUDGE ARRANGED

The Judge of the County Court was
tn trouble.
He had adjourned his court, the
Jurors had gone home, and he was
left alone with the Sheriff.
Mo- not entirely alone-a sallow-
faced woman in q limp and faded
gingham sunbonnet and a limper and
more faded homespun dress crouched
down by the door of the Court House
Z with baby in her lap.
(, The Judge stepped outside for q
moment and looked down the one
Struggling street which constituted
the main thoroughfare of Blue Rock.
A dreary, drizzling rain was falling,
and there was scarcely a sign of life
In the little village.
"Jimp
In response to the call the sheriff
followed the Judge-he was q big, tall
fellow, with good natured face, and
his stumbling walk Impressed one
with an idea of his laziness and gen.
sral incapacity.
"Jim," said the Judge, "I'll be
burned II / know what to do with
Sally Black"
The sheriff hitched up his baggy
leans trousers and then scratched his
head.
"We're in Ak, Jedge," was his re-
ply, and broad grin spread over his
lace.
Undoubtedly the Judge was in e.
+ fx-he knew that well enough with
out hearing from the sheriff. Sally
Black had been convicted ofvagrancy
in his court, and he had sentenced
her to six months Imprisonment
sentence which was TO be carried out
by knocking down the prisoner to
the highest bidder.
AS rule, the prisoners disposed of
In this manner were negroes, and the
farmers Of the country were always
ready to bid for them and put them
to work on their plantations, where
Uucy WcTt IItdUcu HING Uu6 ObHcT uduuS
until their term of service expired.
The farmers around Blue Rock were
supplemented, old-fashioned set Of
people, and the county court in their
eyes was nota mill ofcriminal justice
1t was merely an agency through
which they were supplied with labor
ers. They wanted Sally Black put
through, as they expressed it, be-
cause she was the only regular tramp
and beggar in the country-a good
for-nothing white woman, who had
was evidently going to the devil.
But when their wish was gratified
when the forlorn woman in her rags
and desolation had been tried, con-
victed and sentenced, the honest
countrymen slipped out Of the court
room with downcast faces and started
homeward. Sheriff Jim spent nm
hour on q stump in front of the tenn
pie of justice vainly endeavoring to
auction off his human merchandise,
but nobody would offer bid.
OF course it was no feeling of COM
passion for Sally Black that they
held them back-it was the baby!
"Billy Belts would take her." said
the Judge, coming out of n brown
study. II think. Jim, Ill send you
down to the house."
"All right, Jedge," answered jim.
His Honor looked inside the door.
Sally Black still ant on the floor
leaning against the wall with Der
baby in her lap. She did not look
up ut the:..Judge's stern face, but the
little girl did, and began to laugh
and crow 10 spasm Of delight.
The Judge hastily beat a retreat.
Jim" he said. "you needn't go
after Bette.
"All right, Jedge."
''The fact is, Belts is not the right
sort to have u convict; he's hard
man-too rough, you know"
"Jesso, ledge"
''We'll lock her up in jail until to-
morrow" said the other.
The Judge walked inside the court
house and stopped down to tell the
woman of his determination.
A pnir of blue eyes flashed at him
In riotou merriment, and n pair OF
pink fists struck at him and then
the child's long fingers entwined
themselves in his long beard.
zoos oo2" chirruped the baby.
His Honor pushed hiscnptor back,
very gently, and then looked at the
Sheriff.
."She's q peart GAL" remarked
Jim
The Judge bolted out Of the door,
followed by the faithful officer:
"Jim, this is getting serious" :.
"Looks like n tough old case"
volunteered the Sheriff.
81 can't lock that baby up In our
dirty old Jail, and l won't
How will you fix it. ledger asked
the other. Under the law we can't
bid for the prisoner. !.
~ know what Ill do" said the
JUDGE say, Bob, come hereP ne
shouted to man on the other side
Of the street,
Rob crossed over very reluctantly.
. He was q tenant on a small farm be-