The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-10

The Judge had dined and was enjoy
ing an afterdinner cigar before turning
to a pile of papers that lay on the table
at his elbow. Yet even as he watched
the fiickering fire and puffed dreamily
at his cigar, luxuriating In a little re-
Taxation after hard days work in a
close and crowded court, his mind was
busy formulating the sentences in
which he intended to sum up case
that had been tried that day. There
could be no doubt as to the guilt of the
prisoner, who had been accused of a
most impudent fraud and though 1t
was a first offense, the judge intended
to pass the severest sentence which the
law allowed.
The Judge was no believer in short
sentences. He regarded leniency to
criminal as an offense against society
a direct encouragement of those who
hesitated on the brink of vicious cour-
ses and We're only restrained by fear
of punishment The meaning peo-
pie who got up petitions to mitigate
the sentence upon a justly convicted
thief or murdeder were, in his eyes,
guilty of mawkish sentimentality.
There was no trace of weakness or eff
feminacy in his own face, with its griz-
zled eyebrows, somewhat cold gray
eyes, thin lips and massive chin. He
was a just man, just to the splitting of
a hair, but austere and Unconditional.
He had conducted the trial with the
most scrupulous impartiality, but now
that verdict of guilty was a foregone
conclusion he determined to make an
example of one who had so shamefully
abused the confidence placed in him.
Stated briefly, the situation was as
follows: The prisoner, Arthur Max
well, was cashier to a firm of solicitors,
LightbodNy &s Dufton. The only surviv-
ing partner of the original firm, Mr..
Lightbody, had recently died, leaving
the business to his nephew, Thomas
Faulkner. Faulkner accused Arthur
Maxwell of having embezzled sum
of $1,250. Maxwell admitted of hav-
ing taken the money, but positively as
serted that it had been presented to
him as a free gift by Mr.. Lightbody.
Unfortunately l'or the prisoner the let
ter which he had stated had accom-
panied the check could not be produced,
and Faulkner, supported by the evil
dence of several weil-known experts,
declared the signature on the check to
be a forgery. When the check book
was examined the counterfoil was dis
covered to be blank. The prisoner as
serted that Mr.. Lightbody had himself
taken out a blank check and had filled
1t and signed it at his private residence.
He could, however, produce no proof
of this assertion, and all the evidence
available was opposed to his unsup-
ported statement,
Arthur Maxwell" soliloouized the
Judge, you have been convicted on evil
dence that leaves no shadow of doubt
of your guilt OF crime which must
characterize as one OF the basest--"
The chattering of voices in the hall
brought the sohloquy to an abrupt
conclusion. The judge required abso-
lutte silence nd solitude when he was
engaged in study, and the servants,
who stood in constant awe of him.
were extremely careful to prevent the
least disturbance taking place within
earshot of his ssLnctum. He jerked the
bell impatiently, Intending to give
good wigging to those responsible for
the disturbance.
But the door was thrown open by his
daughter Mabel, a pretty girl of II,
who was evidently in a state of breath
less excitement.
"Oh, papa." she exclaimed "here's
such a queer little object that wants to
see you. Please let her come in"
Before the judge could demonstrate
little child, a rosy-faced girl of be-
tween 5 and 6, in a red hood and cloak,
hugging black puppy under one arm
and a brown paper parcel under the
other, trotted briskly into the room.
The Judge rose to his feet with an ex-
preston which caused his daughter to
vanish with a remarkable CELEBRITY The
door closed with a bang. He could hear
her feet scudding rapidly upstairs, and
found himself alone with the small
creature before him.
what on earth are you doing here,
child?" he asked irritably. What can
you possibly want of me?" She re-
mained silent. staring at him with
round, frightened eyes. Come, come.
can't you find your tongue, little grip"
he asked more gently. What Is It you
want with me?"
IF you please" she said timidIy,
'I've brought you Tommy"
Tommy was clearly the fat puppy,
for as she bent her face toward him he
wagged his tail and promptly licked
the end of her nose.
The judges eyes softened in spite of
himself.
Come here" he said, sitting down,
land tell me all about it,
She advanced fearlessly toward him,
as animals and children always did in
his unofficial moods.
This is Tommy, suppose?" he said,
taking the puppy on his knee, where it
expressed it's delight by ecstatic con-
tortions of the body, and appeared to
consider his watch chain a fascinating
article of diet.
''I've broughted you other things as
WELL" she said, opening the brown pa
per parcel and revealing a doll with a
very beautiful complexion, large blue
eyes, and hair of the purest gold, di-
minutive Noah's ark, a white pig, a
woolly sheep, a case of crayons, a PEN
holder, a broken-bladed knife, small
paint box, picture book or two, and
what bore some faint resemblance TO
a number of water color sketches She
seemed particularly proud of the last
named.