The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-28
THE EVENING STORY
&c juror Fronl BaY.
(By M. ]. PhiIlips.

to the presence in prison of fictitious
persons, and receiving fees from the
county therefor to the amount of
twelve hundred and eighty-nine dollars
and seventy cents; said Samuel J. Haw-
kins being at that time and at the
present time the sheriff of cambridge
county. The Indictment is before you.
The grand jury, first of its kind for
years, had been IN session in Balm
bridge county for forty-two days, and
It's labors had resulted in the voting of
seventeen indictments The name Of
Sheriff Hawkins was last on the list
to be considered.
There was motley crowd on the
stairway of the court house, waiting to
hear the result of the jury's delibera-
TONS A fat deputy sheriff, his hands
folded comfortably across his stomach,
sat at the head of the corridor leading
TO the ground glass door behind which
the jury was celebrating. Some of
the waiting throng about him were at
tracted by motives of curiosity only.
Others, restless and impatient, We're
there to gather crumbs of information
for friends who feared. Then there
We're three or four newspaper men
with pleasant, cynical faces and keen
eyes.
There was silence inside the court
room after the indictment clerk had
fnisher his reading. Jruor Vanderbeck
was first to speak Il would like to-
matter"
The prosecutor smiled as he twisted
his brown mustache. you can't shift
any responsibility, gentlemen" he re-
dictate as to who shall be indicted.
It's up to you"
Boys, 1 wish you'd hear me on this
matter" The speak er was John Kerns
of Bay township, a silent, kindly man,
who during the tedious weeks of the
lnquisition had thought much and said
little. There was a rustic of interest as
he rose, a tall, lanky cure in rusty
smooth shaver and he had the stoop
of hard work in his powerful Shout
ders. John KeFnS was only 80 years
old, but he had never been regarded
as young. His intimates thought of
him, though with affectionate respect
that had nothing of contempt in It, as
! odd John
7 don't believe that we'd better in
dict Sam Hawkins" he said. I know
him as if he was my own brother, for
We were raised on neighborin' farms
He amt bad; he's only weak Sam
would never have got into trouble if
you'd left him on the farm.
''Oh, I know all about it, and so does
every man on this jury. Our party
agreed to trade Sheriff for Register of
Deeds, and so you fellows put up
poor candidate so Jim Connors could
win in a walk. But Sam didn't know
Z
to win, and he did winl He had to
mortgage his farm to do it. and after he
had been in a while he found out lie
wasn't wanted, and that he'd have to
walk the plank it the end of one term.
All the bosses want Jim COnnors, and
next fall he'll be elected. The same
accident don't happen twice. Amt
that sop
Nobody answered, though several had
shifted uneasily during his talk. Well
! = =
feel very good when he found out what
! he's up against. The mortgage was stili
on his farm, and he had to get II off
this term, or not at all. They say les
made fictitious entries to collect fees
and board bills from the county; you
don't know what you'd done, or I'd done
under the same circumstances. Now
let's all shoulder a little of Sans re-
1 sponsibility, and let him pay tina money
| back The county won't be out any
thing. and to prosecute Sam would
would break hearts. I'm going to vote
against true BILL
They baHoted in silence. None for
| true bill; twenty-three against" laid
! the clerk little emotion even showing
4 in the sing-song voice which had as a
mere matter of routine blasted so many
| that afternoon. mo further indict-
ments.''
This jury stands adjourned sine die
called the foreman.
now that the long strain had been re-
moved, the jurors fled out of the room-
Molly DIVER was baking bread in the
kitchen of her home, three miles from
the county seat, and a pretty picture
she made, her cheeks glowing from the
| ardent kiss of the fire while her eyes
rivaled the Goals in brightness.
The snow was falling steadily. Sud-
denly Molly stopped to listen. On the
crisp air came the faint chime of sleigh
! bells. The sound grew louder moment
/ by moment. Molly went to the window
/ to watch. Around the turn of the road
swept a cutter drawn by fine team of
trotters.
A man in a big fur coat was driving:
/ It was Sam Hawkins, the sheriff, and
the light faded from Molly's eyes as
she watched the team sweep gracefully
into her fathers driveway and never
stop until il had brought up by the
side porch of the house.
The sheriff sprang from the sleigh,
and without waiting even to blanket the
horses, rushed UP the steps and into the
house. With the assurance OF the &C
! cepted lover he nodded and smiled gen
! tally to Molly's mother in the sitting
room but did not pause Instead he
rushed into the kitchen and with cry
4 of delight swept Molly into his arms.
He kissed her eagerly on face and lips
and hair Although she submitted pa
/ tiently to the caresses, the girl did not
respond to them, and haf-uncon-
scious of relief escaped her when the
young man finally released he and stood
/ back beaming. to look at her.
"HurIay, Molly!' he cried. the grand
/ jury has adjourned, and I'm not in
was there any danger, SAM" she
asked, quietly. although her attitude
! expressed intentness.
Il In his relief from the strain of self
Il imposed silence and gnawing anxiety
! during the six weeks that the jury had
been in session the man was too wrap
/ ned M in selfish joy to notice anything
amiss-
was there any dangers'' he echoed.
| ssWell. I should think there was 1
was caught with the goods. all right
/ And who do you think saved me? Old
1 Tobn Kerns Do YOU know, Molly he
| babbled on. almost drunk with ex-
i Ii ion Il used to fancy John was