The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-05-18
THE SCALESOF JUSTICE
BY HEkRlETTE olLcHRlsT.
AhVTOU are an exceedingly violent
and dangerous person." said the

nity: "you have assaulted this gentle
mana harmless journalist, tco--in the
most brutal manner;- you have kicked
him and inflicted very serious injuries.
It was your obvious intention to steal
his gold watch and chain, and it was
only by the most strenuous efforts, and
By dint of much painful physical exer-
ton ON his part. that he bravely sue
ceeded in holding you during the Is
minutes before the arrival of the con-
stable. Worst of all, judge from your
present demeanor that you arc quite
unrepentant."
At this point the prisoner interrupted
with a series of remarks which, in
these pages, are best expressed by the
pure and inoffensive dash, which may,
as usual, be translated according to
the vocabulary of the reader.
81 shall be obliged" continued the
magistrate unctuously, smacking his
lips, "to make severe example OF you;
this kind of behaviour must be checked
at all costs; feel it to be my duty to
sentence -(breathless silence in
court --to-three- days-penal servi-
tude"
Once more the spectators breathed
freely; the terrible tension was over:
amid the general rustic and murmur
enc faint gasp of horror was hardly no
ticed. 1t was forced from the lips of
the journalist, who was the other prin-
cipal actor in the little episode. His
head was still striking study in sur
gical bandages, and he walked by the aid
of two sticks. AS soon as the sentence
was pronounced he left the court, and
at once drove home and went to bed,
a prey to some of the most painful
emotions which can fill the human
breast. He explained to his landlady,
who fed him tenGerly on Cruel, that he
was the victim of bitter remorse at the
thought of the terrible punishment
which he had been the means of bring
ing upon fellow-creature.
Comforting thoughts, however,
seemed to come with the gruel-for
at intervals Perkins burst out into
wild, understandable chuckles.
On the third morning he arose early,
summoned a hanson and drove to his
bank; from thence he drove towards
the attractive neighborhood of Penton-
vile, alighting some little distance
from the free hotel known as Holloway,
where certain number of her majes-
tvs subjects are lodged free of charge.
He watched the entrance covertly, and
precisely On the stroke of ten he saw
emerging forlorn little group of
shamefaced men. He watched them
keenly as they separated and went
their different ways. Some had friends,
some had none-at least in evidence
and of the latter was poor Bill Briggs,
his recent assailant, but who had paid
such heavy penalty for his crime.
AT the next corner Perkins overlook
him as he slouched heavily away.
Briggs, my man." he said, touching
him on the shoulder, 81 hope you cher
ish no resentment against me?"
Briggs stared, with lowering brow,
but could see nothing at which to take
affront in the geniaily beaming and
open countenance with which Perkins
approached him.
"Shall we agree" he continued, "to
let bygones be bygones? You, in the
course of your voca ton, came into ac-
cidental contact with me in the pur-
suance of mine, while my heart
bleeds at the thought of what you have
undergone for that one small acct
dent
Briggs looked at him from the cor
ner of his bleary eye, and coughed a
whispered cough behind his hand.
Il, as you will acknowledge" con-
tinued Perkins, "am not to blame for
the length of that cruel sentence; in
deed, l may say that / was quite as
much surprised at it as you yourself.
However, that is the magistrates af-
fair, not mine. Shall we cry quits over
glass of four 'arf?"
Such an attractive olive branch was
not to be resisted.
Right you are, guv'nor," replied
Briggs, drawing his sleeve across his
mouth in anticipatory enjoyment. 81
don't bear you no i'll will; it were a
fair tight between us, and you was the
best man, but blime! guv'nor, you
came near to choking me, and that
there flat ring o. yours saw the last of
my front tooth. Weren't that enough
Tor We, without calm the bloomin'
cop?" (Only he didn't say bloomin)
Il think l could have cracked yer nut
in another minute!" he added, reflect
lively.
by this time they had reached the
door of the Kings Head; where, inside
the private bar, the conversation was
continued. Under the genial influence
of several pots of ''four 'arf," and other
pleasant refreshment for the inner
man, Bill Briggs completely thawed
and soon lost all sense of injury to.
wards the man who had been the means
of curtailing his joyous liberty for such
a heightened period.
Mr.. Magistrate Peters, the other chief
participant in this little episode, lives
on the borders of breezy Hampstead
Heath. 1t is his custom to freshen his
faculties after the day spent in close
stutfy courts, by twilight stroll be
fore dinner across its pleasant expanse
Not long after the above related Incl
dents, he was taking this little consti
tutional somewhat later than usua
perhaps; it was rather chilly evening
and there were not many people
abroad. His eyes were bent thought
fully upon the ground, and he strolled
slowly, shifting appreciably the fresh
gorse-scented breeze.
Suddenly from behind neighborinp
ciump OF bushes dark figure doomed
between him aud the sky. He gave 9