The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-12-01
LOVE IN COURT.
Where Dal Synton, OF Blue Gravel
Gap, Got His Bride.
ICoPYRIGHr. 1893 l

| the grlmy windows through Whlch the
morning sunlight was vainly strug-
CLING to penetrate. A. tie gruff com
mand the score of louDsc c-s and usual
=. hangers-on settled back expectantly
| upon the hard wooden benches: the
lawyers. gathered within the railing,
rustled their pa pers ostentatiously; the
judge. solemn and of dignified mien,
| seated himself beneath the judicial
canopy, and justice reigned within the
San Francisco police court.
Inside 1.-The pen" there appeared only
two unfortunate beings.
Lazi]y loiling upon the bare, hard
bench, worn to 4 polished surface by a
generation of evil-doers. Dal Synton,
! debonaire, well, even fashionably,
dressed, did not present the appearance
of dangerous criminal. There was a
half smiling. half contemptuous look
on his handsome features, as he coolly
gazed at the morbidly curious on
lockers, but his eyes filed with softer
light as his glance wandered to the
slender form of his fellow prisoner
seated i. further corner of the en-
closure.
Seen from the courtroom there ap-
peared only mass of thick, tangled,
struggling blonde hair peeping above
the rail, but from his position there
was visible the graceful figure of a
young girl, clad in garments which,
although not rich in material, were
yet neat and well-ftting, making the
wearer a person of refined appearance.
"Jobn Smith, stand up" 1t WIS the
bailiff who had spoken.
For an instant Mr.. Sypton looked
somewhat bewildered; then, as if it
had REQUIRED to him that for the
moment he was John Smith" he
slowly rose to his feet.
AS the judge for the first time
looked over his glasses at the pris-
oncr an expression of amused surprise
fitted across his stern features. For a
moment he appeared as if about to
smile. then his lips frightened and the
mouth.
John Smith, prisoner at the bar"
he said in dull, grave, sing-song
tone, ''you are charged with being
found in a gambling house where
games Of chance were being conducted
contrary to law. What do you plead?"
THAT didn't know the way out as
well as the others. What's the price?"
nonchalantly returned Mr.. Synton.
Twenty dollars or twenty days"
With an easy smile Mr.. Synton
stepped from the box and laid shin
ing gold piece on the bar of justice.
As he turned to go his glance once
more fell upon the figure huddled in
the corner of the dock, and he hesi-
tated. Then he sat down among the
crowd OF idlers outside the rail-
"Ethel Wheelock, stand up." com
manded the bailiff in his harshest tone
ethel Wheelock, prisoner at the
bar" began the judge, slowly, you
are charged with being dissolute,
immoral person, without visible means
of support. What do you plead?"
The girls face had assumed death
like pallor. As each word was enunci-
ated she had WINGED as if receiving
blow. Dal Synton watched her with
pitying glance. Her lips quivered,
then twitched, but no sound escaped
them. In her blue eyes there was
pleading, staring look, which he
likened to that of some dying beast.
A violent shudder passed through her
slender frame, her head sank slowly
forward, her eyes closed, she tottered,
and in moment she would have fallen.
But in that instant the young man, re-
gardless of all propriety and decorum
due the court, vaulted over the low
railing and supported her reeling
figure, allowing her to sink gently
upon the hard bench.
At once all was confusion. The
bailiff's stentorian voice was power
less to restrain the morbid throng;
they pressed about the dock in wild
disorder.
''Clear the courtroom" commanded
the judge at last.
And while the brawny policemen
were hustling the spectators into the
corridors. the hospital attendants were
called from below, and under the direc-
ton of the matron the unconscious
girl was removed to the prison ward
and placed under the care of physi-
cian.
When at last order had been restored
the judge turned toward Mr.. Synton
with smile of recognition.
Come into my chambers. Dal," he
said, and he led the young man toward
! small door behind the railing.
Say, my lord" began Mr.. Synton,
'amiliarly, as they seated themselves
n the little room, ''I'll match you for
hat yellow boy-forty or nothing"
Judge Barnard laughed. We're not
n Nevada now" he returned.
mo, you bet we're not said
Mr.. Synton. But if we'd arrested
-ou every time you looked on
he cloth when twas green, while |
,ou We're visiting US last summer. you
would have left quite stack of TWEEN
les behind"
Il did, Dal. l did" replied the judge, |
md there was humorous twinkle in /
lis eye. Possibly he was thinking Of /
low much he would have saved, had /
he loss been only twenty dollars on
Zach game.
Barnard" said Synton, gravely, /
who was that young girl in the dock |
With me?'
Judge Barnard shrugged his shoul
iers suggestively. THE same old !
tory, Del" was ali he said.
Yes. heard the charge" returned
'lr. Synton with a gesture of depreca-
ion. but every song can be sung in
iitferent key. Is there no.
t.Nn rnr- hrr- - IN ill. ,+nr,nrsad fh,