The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-09
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n ~ The sheriff of the

slouching fellow, had
entered hurriedly, and was scanning
the faces of the assemblage from I'M
der the brim of his wide felt hat.
His scrutiny seemed to give him no
satisfaction. -... -- ~
Has anybody seen Jimmy Els
worth that knows him. he asked at
large. None answered, and he pushed
his way to the door of the dining
room, peering about anxiously; then
he turned again to the company in
the office. Jimmy said he'd come in
to-day" he drawled; "but 1 amt saw
him. 1t amt like Jimmy to go back
on his word. Durn me! I'm too
plague-taked easy with these fellers.
I'm goin' to quit it; hear me ~,
a smile lay upon several faces
faces of those who knew the big sher-
if and his foibles.
"Jimmy's always KEEP his word with
me-" the officer complained. Hes
good Teller But of course, this is
different. There want no fit place to
put Il clean man in the Jail. Jail amt
just to say alright, nohow. An, then,
Jimmy said he had corn an such to
be looked after, so I let him go home.
He said he'd come in to-day sure.
Be just my burned luck if he'd
skipped out Likes not he's in Injun
Territory by now. I ought to knoWed
better. Then where'll l be-"
A laugh stirred the group Of listen
ers, and someone spoke: why, Billy,
you are in a box, amt you? OF
course he's skipped. Wasn't he I'M
der bond?"
'Bond!". the perturbed officer an
swered. NO. he wasn't. He couldn't
give none I ought to KEEP. him. I
reckon; but durn my fool heart. l
thought I knowed him we'll enough.
Besides, he'd been good friends to
me out in Wells precinct"
The ripple Of laughter rose to a
cresting wave. This was no new
thing in the conduct Of the sheriffs
office.
There was q commotion on the wide
porch at the front of the hotel-many
steps and the humping of heavy bag
gage. The door was pushed open
and there entered the big negro who
was general factotum about the place,
bending under the weight Of a trunk
set upon his shoulders, and followed
by. several new guests. The hrst or
these was a man of apparently 80
years, bronzed by sun and weather,
poorly clad, but rugged and ruddy.
as becomes one whose craft Is with
the plow. At sight Of this man the
sheriff's face cleared.
We'll thank the IIord, Jimmy!' he
cried. and shook hands cordially
"Think I wasn't coming?" the other
laughed lightly. Il said ia be here,
didn't I?' Then these two passed
from general attention to make way
for one who had followed in Ellis
worth's steps,. and whom Stlllngs
greeted with warmth:
Judge, I'm glad to see you-glad
to be the first to shake your hand and
say good luck to you
Presented to the eye, Judge Brooke
gave promise Of fulfillment of Still
ings' assurance that he was mo fool
He was tall and we'll knit, with a
Smooth-shaven face, and apparently
not much beyond his 35th year. But
for his size and muscular strength he
would have appeared much younger,
so clear were his eyes, so fresh his
complexion. There was an undenia-
BILE masculine quality in his bearing;
to his lips were restrained, almost grim,
and evidently sealed against trivial
tiles.
1--WE shall be thrown much to-
eether for a. few years.. he said to
the attentive group. probably you
are as anxious as [ that everything
shall move pleasantly, so far as our
personal relations are concerned
shall try to do my part to that end
- Some Of you are strangers to me;
but that Is not to continue. we may
have antagonistic ideas in politics.
but I hope that may signify nothing
shall not regard politics.; shall moi
consider that I owe any debt to any
particular political party, as in the
campaign I.hawe- tried to forget that
was the candida$e of one party anc
not of the whole people. I have nc
doubt that we shall get along very
- we'll together. Landlord, am toe
late for SUPPER"
Judge Brooke arose early on the
crisp morning following, and had hi!
breakfast almost alone; then he wen
for long walk thru the town. Wher
he returned to the hotel there was still
u half hour before the time set for thu
opening Of court. and the lawyers wer'
lingering in, the, .dining-room. Afte
49, his exhilarating exercise in the fire.
air Brooke found the ,overheated off1c
oppressive, and he remained upon tn
wide porch, pacing back and forth
There he found one apparently Xix
minded to himself-the man Ellis
worth, who had on the preceding nigh
surrendered himself to the custody o
the sheriff and who now sat upon
long bench without the door. Il
.s- him Judge Brooke spoke casually:
You were on the train with me las
night coming up, weren't you? o.
Jury service, are yOu?"
Ellsworth grinned" appreciativelJ
mo" he said, frankly. TITS wors
than that. Tn a subject for g. jury
I reckon TIL be arraigned to-day
Brooke's brow contracted as n
looked keenly into the smiling face
1t was good face, such a face as me
- like to look upon in their fellows.
was entirely free Of that element {
dOggedneSS and SLY COnCealment WnlC
we are used to expect in the face
one even charged with crime. H
eyes We're especially good, large an
clear, almost limpid, like a child
The face comported very we'll with tf
tone of the confession, but the sui
stance of that confession made sd
=%a puzzle.
''Hows that?" Brooke asked "A1
raigned? You don't mean that--on
criminal charger"
Ellsworth nodded, his grin persis
ent. Grand larceny" he said, wit
a deliberate accent, as tho the wort
had a not unpleasant flavor. Brook
stodo for moment, his han(
clasped at his back. 1T
"Well," he said, at last, 81 don't III
derstand this. I suppose have +
right to ask questions. 1 shall fir
out by and by, no doubt
ooh, that's all right Ellswor1
answered. I'm not squeamish abo1
it. It's grand larceny all rlgl
enough. Yes, you'll hear about
later, I reckon .....
BY ones and twos and threes tt
lawyers were filing out of the -hote
buttoning about them their overcoat
whose pockets bulged ominously wi
papers. In struggling processio
Judge, bar, and hangers-on moved
the street toward the ramshack
frame building where were the coun
offices and whose upper story held Il