The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-08-03

sat at tie head OF the corridor leading
to the ground glass door behind which
the jury was celebrating. Some of the
waiting thr)ng about him were at
uacted by motives of curiosity only;
others, restless and inpatient, were
there 10 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
finished his reading. Juror Wander
beck was first to speak. Il would like
to hear from Mr. Scarborough on this
matter"
The prosecutor smiled as he twisted
his brown mustache. You can't shift
any responsibility, gentlemen" he re-
piled. The law does not allow me to
dictate as to who shall he indicted.
It's up to YOU"
Boys, | wish you'd hear me OH this
matter" The speaker was John Kerns
of Bay township, silent, kindly man.
who during the tedious weeks of the
inquiSition had thought much and said
little. There was a rustic of interest
as he rose, tall, lanky figure in rusty
black, His spare lined face was
smooth Shaven, and he had the stoop
of hard work In his powerful Shout
ders. John Kerns was only thirty
years old, but he had never been re-
Sarded rs young. His intimates
thought of him, though, with affection
ate respect that had nothing of con-
tempt in it as "Old John"
Il don't believe that we'd better in
dict Sam Hawkins" he said. Il know
him as If he was my own brother, for
We We're raised on neighboring farms.
He amt bad; he's only weak. Sam
would never have got into trouble if
you'd left him on the farm
"Oh. | 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 Il walk. But Sam didn't know
he was to be sacrifice He went in
to win, and he did win, He had to
mortgage his farm to do it, and after
he had been in awhile he found out he
wasn't wanted and that he'd have to
walk the plank at the end of one term.
All the bosses want Jim Corners, and
hn al,
accident don't happen twice. Amt
that so?"
Nobody answered, though several
had shifted uneasily during his talk.
Well" continued the speaker sam
didn't feel very good when he found
out what he's up against. The mort
gage was still on his farm, and he had
to get it off this term or not at all.
They say he's 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 responsibility and let
him pay that money back The county
won't be out anything, and to prose
cute Sam would-would break hearts.
I'm going to vote against true bill"
They balloted in silence. "None for
true bill; twenty three against" said
the clerk, a little emotion even show
Ing In the singsong voice which had
as mere matter of routine blasted so
many that afternoon. mo further in.
dictments."
This jury stands adjourned sine
die" called the foreman.
Laughing and talking like schoolbovs
now that the long strain had been re- |
moved, the jurors filed out of the room
Molly Dwyer was baking bread in the
Kitchen of her home, three miles from
the county seat, and pretty picture
she made, her cheeks glowing from the
ardent kiss of the fire, while hrr eyes
rivaled the Goals in brightness.
The snow was falling steadily. Sud-
uenly Molly stopped to listen. On the
arlsp air came the faint chime of sleigh !