Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-03-12
MITE IRRATIONAL.
CHAPTER II.-cCoSrrNUEDA

Inc prlnClpul dIllCle Va iui
the Hall of Justice was long, clumsy
deal table, covered with green Dalze'
lat the head of this table sat the presl-
dent and his court, with their hats on
backed by a heterogeneous collection
OF patriots officially connected IN va
rious ways with the proceedings that
were to take place Below the front OIL
the table, a ralled-off space, with
gallery beyond, was appropriated by
the general public-mostly represented
as to the gallery, on this OCCASION ny
women. all sitting together on FORMS
knitting, shirt-mending, and baby-llneh
making, as coolly as if they were a'
home. Parallel with the side OF the table
farthest from the great door OF en-
trance, was low platform rallied on
on which the prisoners, surrounded Dy
their guard, were now assembled 10
await their trial. The sun shone IN
brightly from a high window, ana
hum of ceaseless talking perVaded inc
hall cheerfully, as Lomaque entered IT.
He was a privileged man here, as at
the prison; and he made his way in by
a private door, so as to pass the prlS-
oners' platform, and to walk round 1t,
before he got to place behind the
presidents chair. Trudaine, stapdlnS
with his sister on the outermost limits
OF the group, nodded significantly as
Lomaque looked up at him for an IN
slant. He had contrived on his way
to the tribunal, to get an opportunity OF
reading the paper which the chief-agent
had slipped into his cravat 1t con-
tanned these lines:
II have just discovered who the clti-
zen and cheyenne. Dubois are. There
Is no chance for you but to confess
everything. BY that means you may
lnculpate a certain citizen holding au-
thority, and may make 1t his interest,
II he loves his own life, to save yours
and your sisters"
Arrived at the back of the president S
chair, Lomaque recognized his two
trusty subordinates, Magloire and Pl-
card, waiting among the assembled pa
triot officials to give their evidence. Be
yond them, leaning against the wall, adj
dressed by no one, and speaking to no
one, stood the superintendent, Danvilie.
Doubt and suspense were written in
every line of his face; the fretfulness OF
an uneasy mind expressed itself in his
slightest gestures-even in his manner
Of passing a handkerchief over his face
on which the perspiration was gather
Ing thick and fast already. liiHI.
"Silencep cried the usher of the court
for the time being. hoarse-voiced man
in top-boots, with a huge sabre buck
led to his side, and bludgeon in his
hand. Silence for the citizen-presi-
dent!' he reiterated, striking his blud-
geon on the table.
The president rose and proclaimed
that the sitting for the day had begun,
then sat down again.
The momentary silence which fol-
lowed was interrupted by sudden con-
fusion among the prisoners on the plat
form. Two of the guards sprang in
among them. There was the thump of
4 heavy fall-a scream of terror from
some Of the female prisoners-then an
other dead silence, broken by one Of the
guards, who walked across the hall with
bloody knife in his hand, and laid it
on the table. "Citlzen-president," he
said, II have to report that one of the
prisoners has just stabbed himself"
There was a murmurlng exclamation
rs that all?" among the women spec
tators as they resumed their work.
Suicide at the bar of justice was no un-
common occurrence under the Reign Of
Terror.
Manner" asked the president, quietly
taking up his pen and opening a book
"Martigne," answered the hump
backed gaOler, coming forward to the
table.
Description"
"Ex-royalist coachmaker to the ty-
rant Capet."
Accusation"
Conspiracy in prison"
The president nodded, and entered in
the "Martigne, coachmaker. Ac-
cused of conspiracy in prison. Antici-
pated course of law by suicide Action
accepted as sufficient confession of
guilt. Goods confiscated list Thermi-
dor, year two of the Republic"
"Silencs| cried the man with the
bludgeon, as the president dropped a
little sand on the entry, and signing to
the gaoler that he might remove the
dead body, closed the book.
ANY special cases this morning?" re-
sumed the president, looking round at
the group before him.
There is one" said Lomaque, maxi
Ing his way to the back Of the official
chair. "Will it be convenient to you.
citizen, to take the case of Louis Tru-
dame and Rose Danville first? Two Of
my men are detained here as witnesses
and their time is valuable to the Repub-
lie"
The president marked list of names
before him, and handed 1t to the crier
or usher, placing the figures one and
two against Louis Trudaine and Rose
Danville.
While Lomaque was backing again to