The Afro-American., 1897-04-17

watched the flick
IN TN ering fire, ant
a&Gah puffed dreamily a
his cigar, luxuriating IN little relax
alton after hard days work in (
close and crowded court, his mind
was busy formulating the scathine
sentences in which he intended to sum
. up " case that had been atried that day.
Ihere could be no doubt as to the
gnilt Of the prisoner, who had been
accused Of a most impudent fraud, and
though it was first offence, the Judge
intended to pass the severest sentence
Whleh the law allowed.
The Judge was no believer in short
sentences. He regarded leniency to a
criminal as an offence against society,
a direct announcement to those who
hesitated on the brink of vicious
. courses, and were only restrained by
fear Of punishment. The woll.moan-
ing people who got up petitions to
mitigate the sentence upon q justly
convicted thief or murderer we're, in
his eyes, guilty Of mawkisl sentiment
ality. There was no trace Of weak
ness or effeminacy in his own face,
With its grizzIed eyebrows, somewhat
cola, gray eyes, thin lips, and massive
chin. He was q just man, just to the
splitting Of hair, but austere and un-
emotional.
He had conducted the trial with the
most scrupulous impartiality, but now
that verdict Of guilty was q foregone
conclusion, he determined to make an
example Of one who had SO shamefully
abused the confidence placed in him.
Stated briefly, the thgav45E, Sitpot Arthur Mas
QTell, was cashier to a firm Of solicitors
Messrs Lightbody y Dutton. Th
Oily surviving partner OF the origina
tirm, Mr.. Ll3htbody, hal recent,
\ died, leaving the business to hi
nephew, Thomas Faulkner. Faulkne
accused Arthur Maxwell of having
embezzIed a sum OF 925O. Maxwell
admitted having taken tue money, bu
positively asserfc.t tiaat ii had beel
presented to him t1 n bY Mr.
| Lightbody. I ,ortuaa2e ar "a,
prisoner, the letter as
Stated had accompanies he III
could not be produces an
supported by the Evidence
well-known experts,
signature on the chequs III
forgery. When the cheque boa
examined the counterfofI MSS lis
asserted that Mr.. Lishtbody had him
self taken out blank cheque and haC
filled it up and signed it at his private
residence. He could, however, pro
duce no proof of this assertion. anC
All the evidence available was opposed
to his unsupported statement.
''A1thur Maxwell" I" soliloquized the
judge, ''you have been convicted on
evidence that leaves no shadow Of 8
doubt Of your guilt Of crime which ]
must characterize as one of the
basast-'
The caattering of voices II = 4---it
bronrbt +l>o 74.1u y TO an abrupt
S5GclusiQn. The Judge required ab-
solute silence and solitude when he
WAS engaged in study, and the ser
wants, who stood in considerable awe
of him, We're extremely careful to pre-
vent the least disturbance taking
place within earshot Of his sanctum.
He ierked the bell impatiently, intend
INK to give good "wigglng" to those
responsible for the disturbance.
But the door was thrown open by
his daughter Mabel, pretty girl Of
twelye, who was evidently in q state
of hreathless excitement.
"Oh, papa" !" she exclaimed, there's
such a queer little object wants to see
you. Please lether come In.
Before the Judge could demonstrate,
llttle child, a rosy-faeed girl Of be-
tween five and elk, in red hood and
cloak. hugging q black puppy under
one arm and brown paper parcel IN.
der the other, trotted briskly into the
room.
The Judge ro7o to his feet with an
expression which caused his daughter
to vanish with remarkable celerity.
The door closed with q bang. He
could hear her feet scnrryinq RAPIDLY
"
and he found himself alone
with the small creature before him.
''What on earth are you doing here.
child?" he asked, irritably. ssWhat
can you possibly want with me?" She
remained silent, staring at him with
round, frightened eyes, ''Come.
come, cant you find Your tongue.
Little girl? he asked maEe gently.
What Is ii you want with me?s
'sIf you please, she said. timidly,
l'Fe brought Yon Tommy. Z
Tommy was clearly the fat puppy, /
ioF as she bent her face towards him
Az wagged bis tail aud promptly licked
ihe end of her nose.
The judges eyes softened 81 spite
II himself
Come here he 60 aoWn,
spm1 &aI1 ma nsx