The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-07-07

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until they rested upon the evil, leering
countenance of Bill Briggs. He noticed
that the breeze was no longer remlnls-
cent of blossoms, and that the express
sion of Mr. Briggs was not rendered
the more charming by the loss OF a
large front tooth. He had moi the least
difficulty in recognizing his features.
"What are you doing here, my good
man?" blandly demanded the magis-
trate, the occasion seeming to call for
some remark.
"'My good man is i'll" Knocked
Briggs, in his hoarse tones; "chinged
yer chune, ave yer, old man.? How
about me bein' a violent pusson, and
dinger ter sercierty, Ell? amt fer
got the remarks O. yours, if you
have"
Mr.. Peters recognized the threat
ening glitter beneath Briggs lowering
beetle brows, and he though it wise tc
head towards home, but in this
harmless intention Briggs did not con-
cur. The magistrate, however, was
not a coward; those who sit in judg-
ment upon their fellows are seldom
that, whatever other failings may be
laid at their door, and he bravely
turned upon his assailant with all the
judicial dignity which he could mus
ter, minus his official surroundings.
"The question is, my man, what do
you want of me?"
"That's where yer lordship mikes a
little mistike," replied Briggs, with
hoarse chuckle; that amt the ques-
ton at all as it happens; Mr..
William Briggs is on the bench this
time, and Samuel Peters is in the box
which you'll wish you wuz in 'arf
minute-and he wants to ask a question
or two of the prisoner" At this point
of the conversation his manner became
distinctly more offensive. "Wot do yer
mean, yer crumple-1iced old inseck, by
mixing eggsamples O. respectable men
wots trying ter pick up honest liv-
in? Why carn't We leave two gents to
settle their little diff'runces, or if yer
must 60 givin' o. these stunnin' SEN
fences ter people, why carn't yer do it
strife, without lot o. bloomin' rot
checked in, Ell? 1tmakes me squirm, it
do, ter see yer sittin' up there like
cock lookin' down at a worm, and talk
in ter yer Teller creatures as if yer
thought yer wuz God Almighty his
self"
Bill was getting warmed up to his
work, and every moment Mr.. Samuel
Peters expected that his feelings would
boone. too strong to be expressed in
mere words, and that he would receives a
coup de grace from the lowering figure
above him. He tried to explain to
Briggs that the sentence which he had
undergone would not, by many people,
have been considered excessive, consid-
ering the magnitude of his crime
against society, but this seemed only
to inf1ame the passion of his tormentor.
Don't yer try fer ter go kiddin' me
now that it weren't 'eavy sentenced"
he roared argumentatively. eyer own
words wuz that We wuz goin' to mike
eggsample of me-of me-zne-Bill
Briggs!" and with this final explosion
of wrath, he promptly seized his VIC
tim by the collar, and began dragging
him violently across the heath, talking
the while.
"Offenses against sercierty, is it? Ser
cierty indeed! 200 is sercirty, Ell? Mr..
Samiwell Peters we'll sly, and sercierty
is goin' ter ave barth, nice clean
mud barth, which 'ull do it lot er good,
it will! An if yer open yer iyster-
Tipped old mouth, I'll ram this banker
cher down yer throat, I will"
This article in question did not look
appetizing, and Mr.. Peters held his
peace, although he struggled .bravely
and dug his toes into the ground and
clutched madly at trees and furze
bushes, but it was all in vain, for his
mus cles were out of training. and he
was as child in the hands of t;he mus
cular high wayman, who steadily jerked
him alons: in the direction of the pond.
When they arrived at the spot, Bill
paused moment, and again the gap in
his dental arrangements became unbe-
coEingly prominent. The magistrate
availed himself of the pause to try and
persuade him with threats, or to soften
his stony heart with promises, but
without avail. The only sign of re-
lenting which Bill showed was to take
charge OF his gold watch, $50 the water
won't hurt it." he facetiously remarked,
with a horrid leer, which, strangely
enough, seemed to be directed towards
tree in the immediate neighborhood,
as If he felt that its spreading branches
would appreciate his attempts at HUI
NOR.
1t is not desirable that the humilia-
ton of those in high places should be
made public, as it does not conduce to
proper respect for those who hold in
their hands the scales of justice, even
II at times they hold them somewhat
awry, and allow their prejudices to
fall into the scales; consequently, we
will draw kindly veil over the sue
ceeding five minutes.
At the end of that time, lean, black
figure, which looked more like fish
than a man, so dripping was it with
mud, slime and garbage, could have
been seen running through the gather
ing dusk towards the other side of the
heath, while the voice of Bill Briggs.
who was doubled up with laurhter