The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-09-21
Rv WILL n. HARDEN,
conv,;sht. 1905, by HARPER BROTHERS
CHAPTER !.

E~EHE evidence WIS al IL. iue
/ 1 speeches lad been made on
both sides Of the case, and the
attorney for the state had
grown severe and eloquent in urging
conviction. The jury had remained in
retirement all the morning and at last
had filed in and rendered their YER
dict. David Buckley the prisoner at
the bar, was found guilty Of having
deliberately and in the night stolen a
bale Of cotton from 4 neishbolS barn,
branded it as his own and taken it to
market the next day.
He was Il short, Ihichsct man near
the age of siXty-gray. stiff haired and
sullen faced. aud JUST now more an
cry, it was tl:o!ght. IL certain neigh
bors who had testified against him
than chagrined at the verdict Of the
court. He glanced at his wife, who
sat against the railing behind him, and
then stared steadily at the floor till
the sheriff came and led him back to
Jail.
Later In the afternoon he was
brought back to receive his sentence.
The judge, a tall, powerful man, dark
Of hair and eye and as brown as
Spaniard, was about to order him to
stand up when Hiram Hillyer, well
to do cotton and grain merchant OF
the town, rose and begged permission
to speak to the judge in private before
the prisoner was sentenced.
''Well. I reckon we've got time, Mr.
Hillyer," the judge said pleasantly.
"If it's anything in Buckley's favor I'd
like to hear it. I'VE been on the bench
seven years, and I don't think ever
had man before me that was painted
as black by his neighbors."
Making his way through the cluster
Of lawyers and students Of the law
around the stove to one Of the vacant
Jury rooms, the merchant waited for
the judge to join him, and when he
came Hillyer, nervously pulling at his
short, gray beard, faced him, an eager
look in bis mild blue eyes.
'I'm afeard it amt nothin' in the
old mans favor, Judge Moore" he fal-
tered. 1.-The truth is, I'm a-think1n'
about his son. Judge, ef thar ever
was a finer, more honest an upright
boy than George Buckley, hain't neV-
er run across i'm
ooh, you can't tell me anything about
George" said Judge Moore. He and
I are friends. He voted for me and
legged For me in the Upper Tenth dis
trict. Ah, so he sent you to me, did
he? Well, what does George want?
I was glad he wasn't in court to hear
all that stuff against his daddy"
"You see, we thought-me'n' George
both thought that maybe you mought
justice mought be carried out by i'm
posin' a pretty heavy fine, an"
"Old Buckley isn't able to pay a
cent broke in the judge. 1--WE made
inquiries, and if his little farm is sold
it will leave his old wife without any
means Of making support. No, the
jig's up with him.
But Georges been savin' money for
the last FIVE years." said Hillyer anx-
iously. 1--WE got it borrowed from i'm
at regular rates. I can lay my hands
on the money at a moments notice.
Yes, he can raise reasonable amount
all right"
Judge Moore frowned, thrust his
hands into the pockets Of his trousers
and turned to window which looked
out on the courtyard, where few
idlers lay on the grass near the hitch
ing rack.
"I'm not going to be the medium
through which deserving innocent peo-
pie suffer for the guilty." he said
firmly. 1--WE thought it all over. I
was afraid George might ask this, but
it's no go. I've made up my mind on
that score"
"Oh, judge, don't say that" pleaded
Hillyer "The boy simply can't bear
1t. You see, Judge Moore, since 1
tuck I'm an sent I'm off to school he's
been sorter away from his home, an
the feIler's got as much feelin' as any
BODY else. Then when he got through
college an I give i'm q place in my
business he's stood with the best folks
in the town, an it would 60 hard with
into have his own daddy at the coal
mines"
"I know all that, Mr. Hillyer. I've
thought Of it twenty times during this
trial. I hardly slept last night trying
to make up my mind what to do in
case the jury didn't recommend Buck
ley to mercy. Well, they came down
on i'm like load Of bricks, an I'm not
going to let George suffer for him.
Why, the old rascal can't be cured Of
his dishonesty. Didn't you hear what
Bradley said about his constantly steal
ing from his neighbors, many Of whom
never made any charge against him out
of respect for Mrs. Buckley and George?
No, sir; his son, who is my friend, shall
not sacrifice his savings for him.
"Then I'll pay it, Judge; you know
! am able
'You shan't do that either" said the
Judge firmly. Even If I'd consent to
let as old a man as you be out OF
pocket for such a hopeless reprohate,
George would find it out and insist on
repaying you in the long run. No; five
years in the mines Will do the old
scamp good, and I'm going to secure
his transportation
You think that's final then, judge"
Hillyer had turned quite pale, and the
quivering hand which had clutched bis
beard stayed itself in its downward
progress.
.'Yes, that's final, Mr.. Hillyer. wish
I could help you, but can't. I'll settle
Buckleyt hash in about two minutes
after give him sound lecture. Right
now the old devil would cut the throats
Of several Of the states witnesses If
he was at liberty"
"Then I'll 80 back to the store an
tell the boy" Hiilyer sighed as he
moved to the door, dead look Of dis
annofntnent in bis eve.