The evening Republican., 1902-07-15

the Sheriff. ''Come.
The prisoner held out his righ
arm. The officer snapped a hand
cuff on his wrist. Then they walk
ed out of the cell and along the hall
When they reached the outer door
the Sheriff took a bunch of key
from his pocket and turned back thu
bolt. They passed out into the nigh
and the door was locked.
The courthouse was across from
Jail. A new moon cast an unnatur
al light on the earth and here and
there lamp fiickered in o window
The courthouse clock pointed to 1:
minutes to midnight. The prisoner
glanced up at the star spangled sky
The air WAS soft and pleasant and q
drowsy quiet hung everywhere.
What a beautiful night" said he
in voice steady, strong and emo
tiOnless.
Yes" said tho Sheriff, "a fine
night"
Turning to the right they entered
the court room. Two lights on a
center chandelier send feeble rays
through the darkness. The attor-
neys, newspaper men and bailitf
were seated inside the railing.
The prisoner through force of
habit, threw a glance towards the
back of the room. The woman in
black was in her ACCUSTOMED seat,
and opposite to her was the man
with the bronZed face and broad
shoulders. She did not return the
prisoners glance but kept her eyes
upon the man. No one else was in
the room, and the voice, of the law.
gers conversing pleasantly eohael
strangely from the walls
The prisoner took his seat beside
his counsel. Presently the judge
entered through the rear door and
took his place upon the bench. He
glanced at those 10 front OF him an d
nodded to the baililf, who withdrew
After Il few moments the sound of
footsteps sounded along the corridor
and the jury, with the baiitf at
their head, entered solemnly through
side door, All eyes except those
of the prisoner and the woman in
black WeIe turned upon them.
The prisoner gazed calmly at the
wa! back Of the judge; the woman
stared at the man with the bronzod
face. The jurymen took tlleir Seats
in the boz and the Judge said,
"Gent!emen, have you decided upon
verdict"
ave have. your honor" replied
the foreman.
The man with the broad shoulders
glanced ncrvously at the woman in
black. Calmly, lntently, she was
peerins into bis face, the gleam in
her eyes seeming to pierce the darIl-
ness like the light from burning
Goals. He shrank from her gaze; his
banda cIutched the back of the chair
in front Of him so tightly that the
nails cut the wood. lie tried to turn
his face away from her, but could
not Her eyes held him; Their gIIn
mer ate its way through him, aud
he grew pale aud trembied.
"What is your verdict, gentlemen?
asked the Judge
Again the Droad.shou.dercd man
vainly struggled to tear his gaze
from that Of Tie woman. An ICY cold
ness cIung round his heart and cold
perspiralion sprang from his forehead
But still the woman in black gazed
silently at him. and in her eyes was
sign of deadly reproach, Of uupity-
ing censEre.
The foreman rose and began speak.
ing. His voice, sounding loud and
clear in the quiet room. startled the
man with the bronzed face, and he
sprang from his seat white with
fear.
1--WE the jury" read the foreman
from a paper in his hand, "inl the
defendant"
"Hold your honorl,' cried the man
with the broad shoulders, raising his
hand as though commanding silence.
"lIold your honor"'
The voice, ringing through the
darkness, sounded weird and ghost
like. Two Of the jurymrn visibly
tremblcd.
All present except the prisoner,
turned to look at the man standing
like IL speclcr in the uncertain
light.
For moment he paused, covering
his eyes with his hands. Then he
down the aisle and leaned
against the railing. The clock ia the
tower began the stroke of IL.
"lf your honor please" he said,
with a voice that shook with fear, il
your honor please, let not this verdict
be rendered. For am guilty of this
Il my God, killed the
mani"
A sudden movement swept through
the room as though each one present
caught his breath.
He had grievously wronged me-"
the man resumed, 80 | waylaid
him and stabbed him to death. The
prisoner here, your honor, heard
his dying yell and ran to his assist
ance. l had dropped the knife, but |
he picked it up. Then l pulled my |
gun, and he ran away"
Again there was silence-deep,
awful silence. The judge spoke:
DO you fully realize the conse-
luences Of this confession, sir2"
LIDO your honor" replied the
man, slowly, deliberately. II have
:rled to leave here but something
leld me back. Some resistlesS
'ower has dragged me into this 4
courtroom every day Of the trial;
las compelled me to hang around
o-nignt until the jury should agree