Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-06-14

opening the door. The deputy. with
one blow Of his boot. shattered the
lock. Then he and his mon rolled
out the barrels and the hegs and the
demijohna Aunt Charette, as thoy
laid their hands ON each article,
screamed, "Ah. mon Diou! Non! non!
You've taken enoughi Lceve dat
wan!-ieeve dat wan!"
But tho omcers were inexorable
They rolled everything out. They had
to send for another sled. There wore
loads for two heavy teams. The last
man to 70 out was the deputy with
a jug. the last he could md. He had
dug out the remotost corner. As he
went through tho kitchen his eyes
fell on the Jug on the shelf. He took
1t down and smelled Of It.
"Ah. oReecaire! offeecaire!" she
walled, dat be Just . little sup Of
brandy for poor M'sieu Charette, dat
poor man dat set dere. Don tax
dat!"
Uncle Chsrette. pulling at his pipe,
only biinked an extra time or SO.
"Eef 20 TAX dat, offeecaire, wat da
poor man do for hees dreenk to-mor.
row nornin'! Please leeve dat" Tho
oMcer could appreciate tho situation.
He loft II.
Aunt Charette stood at the door un.
I'll the teams disappeared In the dusk
far down the street.
A rough inventory at the storehouse
that evening indicated that Aunt Cha
rette had 600 worth Of liquor in
stock.
The officers left word that Aunt
Cnarette must be at the once Of the
local trial Justice the next forenoon
at 3.
At O'clock Uncle Charette eased
her down out Of the old.fashioned
chaise onto tho platform before the
Justices once. It was . slow and
tedious job. for Aunt Charette's avoir.
dupois Ia disposed In most unwielly
fashion. She was arrayeA In her best
black dress. Uncle Charette--this
being . state occasien-had on his
long.tailed black coat. The faces Of
both were perfectly exprsssionless.
Evidently Aunt Charette had exhaust.
ed all her emotion the afternoon be-
fore.
They sat side by side In the jus.
tice's ONCE mute, never moving, never
oven turning their heads while all
tho other cases Of seisure were dis
posed OF.
It had been 4 Wholesale raid through
tho village. All tho men and women
who had been raided owed money to
Aunt Charetto. All gave bonds to
appear At the higher court. All won't
away.
well, Mrs. Charette." said the jus.
tice, you are charged with single
sale. with nuisance and keeping q
tipplinG house. Have you any lawyer
or any defense to put in!'
To the surprise Of all Uncle Cha.
rette who had been all these years tho
silent partner in this firm, was the ono
to speak.
"She have no lawyer" said no;
she have notins to say"
We'll. l shall have to impose fines
amounting /. about $500 on her," said
the Justice. y Ut Charette kasped-
that was all. ,rcle Charette said
nothing.
You appeal, don't your" asked the
Justice. You know you can appeal
and give bonds and then your wife
won't have to 70 to jail. You will
also have time to get money collected
to pay the nne."
I'VE don't do nottins tall bout Dat
ting" said Uncle Charette dogkedly.
What, you don't moan to say that
you are going to let your wife 20 down
to 1ail!" cried the Justice. III she
doesn't pay or give bonds she'll have
to 90 to jail and await the sitting Of
the court. That is two months OF.
Then she will have still more time
to serve in carrying out her sentence.
Bhe 10 likely to stay thoro the most
OF yoar. Aunt Charette has been
good wife to you, Uncle Charett.
Your homo place stands In your name
All you have to do 10 to sign her bonds
and then she can stay here till court
sits. And by that time you will
have = chance to talk this thing over
with your frionds. I'll make out the
bond"
NO" declared Uncle Charette. "Ef
20 want to TAX her down to jail she
90. She all dressed up. She 20 any
time"
Now. you and and all the rest of
US know that this inst the way the
prohibition statute usually operates
and II isn't the way the authorities
like to have II operate. And then,
too. here was an old woman. who had
never been away from her homo in
all her life. who had srown.up child.
ren, who had knitted In that little
Kitchen there in the village Of Fort
Kent and had looked out through
her little window at the passers in.
I'll she had become one Of the local
landmarks. There want a nsraon