Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1907-07-25
CHAPTER Xu-oCoNr1NUED.,

The prlnclpal article Ol luInACui0 IL
the Hall of Justice was a long, clumsy
deal table, covered with green balze
At the head of this table sat the presl-
dent and his court, with their hats on
backed by a heterogeneous collection
of patriots officially connected IN va
rious ways with the proceedings that
we're to take place. Below the front OF
the table, a railed-off space, with a
gallery beyond, was appropriated ny
the general public-mostly represented
as to the gallery, on this occasion, by
women, all sitting together on FORMS
knitting, shirt-mending, and baby-llneh
making, as coolly as if they were d.
home. Parallel with the side of the table
farthest from the great door OF en-
trance, was a low platform ralled OIL
on which the prisoners, surrounded Dy
their guard, were now assembled u
await their trial The sun shone IN
brightly from a high window, anu
hum of ceaseless talking perVaded the
hall cheerfully, as Lomaque entered IT,
He was a privileged man here, as at
the prison; and he made his way IN Dy
a private door, so as to pass the prl5-
oners' platform, and to walk round It,
before he got to a place behlnd the
presidents chair. Trudaine, standlnS
with his sister on the outermost limits
of the group, nodded significantly as
Lomaque looked up at him for an IN
slant. He had cOntrived on his way
to the tribunal, to get an opportunity OF
reading the paper which the chief-agent
had slipped into his cravat. 1t con-
tanned these lines:
81 have just discovered who the clti-
zen and cheyenne Dubois are. There
is no chance for you but to confess
everything. By that means you may
inculpate a certain citizen holding au-
thOrity, and may make it his interest,"
if he loves his own life, to save yours
and your sisters
Arrived at the back of the president
chair, Lomaque recognized his two
trusty subordinates, Magloire and FL
card. waiting among the assembled pa
triOt officials to give their evidence. Be
yond them, leaning against the wall, al
dressed by no one, and speaking to no
one, stood the superintendent, DanVllle'
Doubt and suspense were written III
every line of his face; the fretfulness Oh
an uneasy mind expressed itself in his
slightest gestures-even in his manner
of passing a handkerchief over his face,
on which the perspiration was gather
ing thick and fast already.
"Silencer' cried the usher of the court
for the time being, hoarse-yOiced man
in top boots, with a huge sabre buck
led to his side, and a bludgeOn in his
hand. SILENCE for the citizen-presi-
dentr' he reiterated, striking his blud-
geOn on the table
The president rose and proclaimed
that the sitting for the day had begun,
then sat down again.
The momentary silence which fol-
lowed was interrupted by sudden con-
fusion among the prisoners on the plat
form. Two of the guards sprang in
among them. There was the thump OF
a heavy faII-a scream of terror from
other dead silence, broken by one of the
guards. who walked across the hall with
a bloody knife in his hand, and laid it
on the table "Citizen-president," he
said. L have to report that one of the
prisoners has just stabbed himself.
There was a murmuring exclamation
rs that aIl?" among the women spec
tators as they resumed their work.
Suicide at the bar of justice was no un-
common occurrence under the Reign OF
Terror.
Manner" asked the president, quietly
taking up his pen and opening book.
''Martigne," answered the hump
backed gaoler, coming forward to the
table.
Description"
'Ex-royalist coachmaker to the ty-
rant Capet."
Accusations"
Conspiracy in prison"
The president nodded, and entered in
the book" Martigne. cOachmaker. Ac-
cused of conspiracy in prison. Antici-
Rated course of law by, suicide. Action
accepted as sufficient confession OF
guilt Goods conf1scated. LIST Thermi-
dor, year two of the Republic"
"Silencew cried the man with the
bludgeon, as the president dropped g
little sand on the entry, and signing tC
the gaoler that he might remove tbs
dead body, closed the book.
"Any special cases this morning." re
sumed the president, looking round al
the group before him.
There is one" said Lomaque, max.
ing his way to the back of the Officia
chair 'Wil it be convenient to you
citizen, to take TIE case of Louis Tru
dame and Rose Danville first? Two o
my men are detained here as witnesses
and their time is valuable to the Repub
lie"
The president marked q list of names
before him, and handed it to the erie
or usher. placing the figures one an(
two against Louis Trudaine and Ros
Danville
While Lomaque was backing again t
his former place behind the chair, Dan
vile approached and whispered to hin
There is a rumor that secret infor
nation has reached you about the citi
zen and cheyenne Dubois. Is it true
Do you know Who they -are?"
Yes" answered Lomaque; "but
have superior orders to keep the infor
nation to myself just at present"
The eagerness with which Danville pu
this question, and the disappointment
he showed on getting no satisfactor