The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-12-08
" A LAssO SHOT sKILLFULLY FROM HIS HAND"

"Wera the horses saved, sencr?" asked
! Pierre.
"Yes, but the barn is dead loss, the
! insurance ran out last week.
Three days ter a boy called at the
Dillon ranch and asked TO see the judge.
He was conducted to his study at once.
1t was Jed Barton the son OF respect.
able ncighboring rancher
"Well my boy, whaG can l do for
you?" said the judge pleasantly.
The boy stood awkwardly twiriing his
hat and his weak face wore a look OF
hesitation.
Thea he said hurriedly.
Say judge, what would you give M
if l should tell you who set fire to your
barn?'
The Judge whirled around sb arply.
"Do you mean to tell me that some
one set fire to it wilfully-on purpose,
and that you know who it WASP"
well, it lookD like 1t when party
sneaks up TO it in the dark and puts a
lighted match to the straw shed back OF
it. / see party do THAT, Judge"
The judges eyes flashed with righteous
wrath.
"Will you swear to that, boy" he
asked, Sharply.
Eyes, sir, replied Jed, stoutly, but he
did not look the Judge in the eye.
Then tell me VINO it was and 1 will
give you $25. Such an offense must not
go UNPUBLISHED if 1 can find the Offend
err"
You won't have to 60 far to find
him" Then Jed lowered his voice. 1T
was Pierre Canito.
''Impossible!"
81 tell you see him do it,
The judge arose abruptly and paced
the floor with tightly com pressed lips.
Can it be possible?" he mute red,
''and trusted the boy completely. II
can't punish him as L intended-as I
should, perhaps. poor orphan outcast-
my own child is motherlessl No. but he
shall go back TO the poorhouse, and that
at once" He rang the bell.
Tell Pierre to come here at once he
| said 10 the servant who answered the
bell.
Ana shortly Pierre appeared.
| "Did the senior wish something?'
The Judge met these fearless dark ewes
with strangely conflicting EN- otions. But
he told himself that he had positive
| proof Of Pierre's deceitfulness and crime.
pierre. !" he said. with a sign of grie
in his voice, 81 have just found out with
what ingratitude and unprincipled con
duct you have repaid my kindness anc
| trust. What have you to say in defense
| OF yourself?'
| Pierre turned slightly pale.
| Il do not understand the senior" ht
said with gentle dignity.
| There Is no use to Try TO deceive m
farther" said the Judge, sternly. 1T
was you who set fire to my barn, Pierre
| Jed Barton saw you, and it is useless t
deny it,
Pierre seemed to turn to stone.
How strangely the room was behaving
The floor WAS going up to meet the cell
ing, no the ceiling was coming down t
meet the floor Pierre grasped the pacl
OF a chair and steadied himself ooi
little orphan Pierre, he hac no friends il
all the world but the judge and Bessei
| and now
asked ths Judge severely.
Ii only the floor would stay in its place
| and stop bobbing up and down in Sc
| strange manner, Pierre thought hi
would be able to think collactedly.
"I-set-1ire-to your-barn!" he re-
peated in daZed way.
"Nou own it, them" SAID the Judge
sternlY. You are guilty? Ungratefu
boy"
All! That aroused Pierre; he pulled
himself together and raised his eyes to
the judges face.
mo! No' he cried Yehemently. "No
! No! Senior, l do not own it, ! set fire
to tho seniors barn! / wrong the kino
senior. whom | Lowell Dear mother oil
! God The saints nave deserted me that
the senior should believe this of me
Oh, senior, you canonot believe itv he
! cried passionately.
Il have no choice but to believe it,
| Pierre" said the judge, sorrowfully,
| touched in spite of himself by the boys
seeming anguish.
| Tell him that it is not truc!" beg