The National tribune., 1902-01-09

The morning hour came for the assem-
bling of the court. Dignity is, of course
regarded as the chief essential of a court
The court may be excused for lack o
knowledge of law, for lack of honor ant
justice. but cannot be excused for lack o
dignity. A court must be dignifed, anC
though in America at least, the powdered
wfcs and judicial ermine gowns have beer
discarded, where is there Il petty DiStric
or Circuit Judge who does not sit witt
gravity?
The Judge of the Territorial District oi
St. Charles was fortunately man pos
sessing comparatively few of the foibles Sc
common to the judiciary. He possessed
something beside dignity, and had whai
was better than legal lore, good common
sense. In knotty problems he did not seel
to bury the issue beneath hair-splitting decl
sions and confusing precedent which per
hapS had no bearing whatever on the case
His plain, common mind went straight tC
the matter in question and sought out Jus
tice instead of law.
la Boone was a little uneasy that his
cause should come before so stern per
son rs the District Judge. and realizing
what a desperate game he was playing,
sat in the court room with his greenlSh
dark eyes on the floor, while the court was
opened in due form.
La Boone was Il peculiar composite.
His one all-absOrbing passion was
the accumulation of land. If he Wor-
shipped any god it was Il section of good
land. That $40 acres of rich soil which
Mr. McNair had entered was madly Gov
eted by the land pirate. He would have
sold his immortal soul to possess 1t. Per
haps we should not blame him too much,
for it was really disease which afflicted
many others. He had seen the proud
acres and longed to possess them. So ar
dently did he desire them that he tried to
discover if, among his numerous deals at
the Land Office, he had not made a pre-
yious entry.
Surely, with such splendid opportunities
to secure this marvel0usly fine tract, he
would not have been so negligent Of duty
as to have let it slip through his hngeIs
He actually convinced himself or partially
convinced himself. that at some time he
had entered the section. OF course, his
opponents say his patent was smoked;
that any one might get blank filled out
TO cover lands previously entered and date
il back of the first entry.
As Peter A La Boone sat in the court
room iistlessly gazing about him, not car
ing to meet the eyes of anyone, he was
constantly asking himself:
Il wonder if | will get half or all that
section. He's hog. I'd a-give him half.
but now that the court is going to decide
for me, | won't give him a foot, nor will
| pay him for his improvements. All, that
beautiful land will be mine. Talk of your
women beautieS-theTe are none that can
equal that section. ] wonder why Benton
don't come? He should be here. There's
old Lucas-wish Benton had killed him,
too, as well as his son. But where is Ben
ton now; why aint he here to help me!Y
There's Mr.. Pettis, but where is BentonE'
There was a general buzz iii court,
which subsidized into a hushed whisper as
the Judge entered and took his seat. He
was a large, corpulent man with iron-gray
hair, smooth-Shaven face, and a manner
that was firm and severe.
The court crier took his place near the
coui9 and began in a nasal tone:
Gay yezi Gay yeZi The Honorable
Distrfg Court for the Second Distrig of
the Territory OF Mizzoury liz now in Zes-
siOn,'' etc, warning all itigantS having
claims to present them, and then came a
hush while the Judge adjusted his spec
tacles and opened large book in front of
him.
He was a clean, neat old gentleman,
with q ruffled shirt front, stiff with starch,
and black, stiff craYat about his neck.
He was old-fashioned, as everyone knew.
for he still adhered to knee-breeches and
the cooked lace hat OF the century just
passed.
Mr.. Pettis, when he whispered:
Where is Colonel Benton: aint he COM
in'g"
NO. was the answer
La Boone looked as if he would suffo-
cate with rage and amazement.
why didn't he come! Why didn't hep
he wheczed.
''He said he would write letter to you
explaining why he didn't come"
Il haint got it yit-no, | haint got it.
Now I'll lose that land by his not COMM
You viii get the letter by noon"
But the case-won't it be tried before
noon?'
NO; doubt if it's reached today"
I'VE can't 90 to trial without Benton
we must have Benton wheezed La
Boone, in his husky voice.
We may be forced to-"
''Then I'll lose my land" almost sObbed
La Boone.
He was decidedly wretched as he sank
into q seat and shook from head to foot
MIR. Pettis almost pitied his client, al
though he knew the old rascal was hardly
worthy Of pity. La Boone had been
mixed up in many shady land transactions,
and might be engaged in another.
The forenoon was occupied in calling the
docket and ascertaining what cases would
be ready for trial and the disposition Of
such motions and minor proceedings as
cleared the way to the trial of cases
Motions in court are the skirmishes of
the attorneys to feel the strength of then.
opponents. When the case Of La Boone
VS.. McNair was called. the defense had
no motion in the way. The line was strip
ped of skirmishers and ready for battle.
Mr.. Pettis and his associate counsel
wanted the case passed for the present
Would they be ready to take il up? Conn,
sci for plaintiff hardly knew, but would
answer in the afternoon. Was the defense
ready? Judge Lucas said they were. This
was a bad break, if they really were
ready, for it revealed his strength and left
all chance of surprises out of the ques-
ton. When the plaintiff knew the de
fense was ready for trial, the plaintiff be.
came alarmed, and began to think of a
continuance.
When the court took recess TO p. M
Pettis went to his room in the tavern
where MuldrOm and La Boone were wait
ing.
went to his room in the tavern whcr,
Muldrom and La Boone were waiting.
"Well, they are going TO force us {,
trial" declared pettis.
What dye think o the case, Mr.. Pet
tis?'
81 don't know. Lucas seems so anxious
to get into the fight, and so certain o
winning, that / am just n trifle uneasy
He may have a masked battery some
where"
kin the court go baIk on the records? :?
mo; but suppose they would prove tn
records had been tampered with?'
What dye meanF wheezed the oil