The Florida agriculturist., 1907-11-06

smiled and bowed pleasantly. That
he had the slightest interest in the
case was not within her imagination
She carried her injured arm in a silk
sling, in obedience to an adroit sug-
gestion of Rockford, asked the witness
that while riding Dick-a gentle old
horse she had used for many years
along district IS, his forefeet sudden
1y crashed through an old worn-out
cu1vert and she was violently precipi-
tated to the hard roadway, alighting
on her left side and arm, terribly
brusing and mangling it," that it was
the first time in all her experience she
had even known Dick to do such a
thing, and she held him quite blameless
for the accident. Then she showed the
white, round arm to the jury, along
with the "disfguring scars.'
After c1inching her case her eyes
wandered over to the defendants table,
and observing bushy-headed yoeman
sitting near the counsel, she selected
him as the cu1prit and withered him
with scorn.
The defendants lawyer, at the sug-
gestion of Rockford, asked the witness
if Dick was ever in the habit of laying
down and going to sleep if he was
pushed further than he thought he
ought to go.
''I have known men to act that way,
but horses never!'
At this crushing retort, the lawyer
meek1y excused her and the state put
on few more witnesses to testify as
to the shady character of the culvert
1--WE will call first the defendant, Mr..
Rockford" said the overseer's lawyer.
'Why-why-why, it's Mr.. BobY'
Bijou half arose as the amazed ex-
c1amation left her lips. The crowd
laughed. Rockford quietly took the
witness chair, and awaited the inter-
rogation. There seemed to be an ex-
cited col1oquy going on at the proose-
cution's table. Forgetful Of her part,
Bijou had contemptuous1y thrown aside
the silk sling and was using both her
arms to lend strength to her observa-
tons. The two attorneys seemed to
be pleading with her, and her Cousin
Willis voice was added to their entreat-
les But she stood alone, and would
not budge Finally the prosecuting at
torney sighed, and quit trying to
coerce his rebe1lious client
"Your Honor" he said, as he re-
fuctantly arose and addressed the court;
''the state is placed in somewhat hui
initiating attitude because of the sud
den change of heart in the prosecuting
Witness She absolutely refuses to per-
NIT the trial to proceed, giving as her
41o4 o1,o 1;54o94 1z+10xx, 1147+i1
that Mr.. Bob,' as she calls him, was
the defendant. Everybody in these
parts knows Bob Rockford, but she ex-
plains that she never knew him by any
other name than Mr.. Bob,' and she
says with reso1ute energy that she
wouldn't prosecute Mr. Bob,' even il
old Dick had fallen and crippled her
for life. We don't wish to proceed with
the trial against her objections, so the
state will enter no11e pross."
One moon1it June evening, when the
perfume of flowers and fields made
light the heart of the husbandman,. the
overseer rode over to the Hampton
home to negotiate for scrap of paper
This paper was neither a deed to land,
a promissory note nor a certificate oi
valuable stock. Yet he was prepared to
pay an enormous price for it, It con-
tanned such language as "disgracefu1, -
neglect of duty" twill not be to1erat-
ed" and so on. The deal was not con-
c1uded with the holder of the paper, but
with one who was authorized to treat.
By the terms of the treaty the over
seer was allowed to light his cigar
with the sinister piece Of paper, and