Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-04-01
The Justice had a. very sharp nose


terror to culprit's heart.
1t so happened that court" was fl
session. One of the petty lawsuits
which were Of frequent occurrenc,
in the village was being tried. TIL,
twelve jurymen. with all Of whom til,
boys were acquainted, had been sworl
In and sat with solemn Importance il
their places.
The legal lights in Alta conducted
affairs very unceremoniously. ant
Squire Millett stopped and asked th'
boys what they wanted.
please, SIR" said Roland, trembling
very much but speaking his lines ex
actly as he and Allen had rehearset
them, II caught this boy cutting up tn,
sign on the vacant lot south Of his
house, and wei mean II want the
$40 reward" He ended with a painful
little gasp. feeling that he had very
nearly betrayed himself.
The squire turned to the village con,
stable, a fierce-looking slX-footer, OF
whom all the children We're mortally
afraid, fact which amused him i'm.
mensely, and said in loud, command.
ing voice, "Guard the prisoner until
this case is finished"
Allen and Roland stood with clasped
hands and dropping forms tn front
of Constable Carnes, who glared al
them fiercely. But way back in his
eye-so very far back that the boys did
not see it-there was a funny twinkle.
AT last the case was brought to q
close, but in obedience to a sign from
the squire they all remained seated.
"Let the prisoner step forward" com.
manded the squire.
Allen stepped out in the room and
Roland came with him, holding his
hand tightly, for he intended to cling
to his friend until the doors Of the
jail closed between them.
"Prisoner, tell the court whether you
are guilty or not guilty"
equity" said Allen chokingly.
"Can you prove any extenuating cir.
cumstances
Allen had never heard Of "extenuat-
ing circumstances" and the words as
spoken by the squire had a dreadful
sound. Could it be possible that they
would hang him? He turned cold and
his teeth chattered so that he could not
reply.
"Let the witness be sworn" next
commanded the squire, and Roland
tremblingly took the stand.
"Now you may tell the court what
you know Of the case"
| Tn faI, l.,
ly tried to make steady Roland testified
to having seen Allen take his knife and
mutilate the sign.
"You are his best friend, are you not
What schoolboys call pal?" said the
| squire, who had known the boys since
| they were babies and was sure there
was something more than appeared on
the surface.
"Yes, SIR"
"Do you not think it rather strange
for boy to betray his best friend?
| Poor Roland now realized to the ut.
most the shame and degradation Of his
position.
II wanted the S1O," he stammered.
"What do you intend to do with it?''
pursued the squire relentlessly.
Buy Ice and fruit and things for
Aliens sick sister," And in spite of his
efforts to appear composed the tears
rolled down Roland's cheeks.
"Ah, that is the point wanted to
reach" said the Squire, in q terrible
voice.
constable, you may take the pris.
| oner and the witness into another room
while the court and the jury talk this
| matter over"
Totally unconscious that there was
anything unusual about the proceed.
ings, Allen and Roland were led out
of the room by Constable Carnes, who
bestowed such scowls and flashes Of
his black eyes upon them that they
were more frightened than ever.
After what seemed years and years
they We're again summoned to the court
room.
Prisoner, you may stand and receive
the sentence Of the court" thundered
fierce voice.
"In view Of your extreme youth, the
fact that it is your first offense and
also Whct the court Is pleased to con.
slider as extenuating circumstances"
(those terrible words again, thought
Allen with a shudder), at has been de.
cided to allow you to go free. 1t is
expected, however, that you will never
appear before the court on such a
charge again"
Before the boys could recover from
their astonishment the squire turned
to Roland and said: ITO you, sir,
now give the reward promised for the
conviction of any person mutilating
the sign"
The boys had expected a great, great
big ten-dollar gold piece, but, strange
TO say, the money was composed of
quarters and 50-cent pieces, and even
some dimes, more like the collection
taken at church than anything else,
they thought. Roland did not stop to-
n