The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1907-07-04

-: snot which killed cory 10 save his
own life. And that, as Mr.. Bradbury
remarked u the colonel, was what
Joe was there fort
Aricl'S escort WAS Increased to four
80. cay. NJ L.aGcv sat beside her.
End there were times when Joe Kept
his mind entirely to the work in hand
only 10y an effort. but he always sue
ceeGed. The sight of the pale and
wcrShiping face Of Happy Fear from
tie corner of his eye was enough to
insure that And people who could not
get near the doors. asking those who
could. Whats he doin' now" were
answered by variations Of the one
formula. "Oh, jest walkin' away with
itw
Once the courtroom was disturbed
lni set in an uproar which even the
Judges customary threat failed to SUI
due. Joe had been talking very rapidly:
and having Slrned the point be was
making with perfect daxterity. the jury,
listening eagerly, stopped for mo-
meut to take a swallow of water. A
vo;x, rose over the low hum Of the
crowd in delirious chuckle, why
don't somebody head him OFF," The
room instantly rocked with laughter,
under cover Of which the identity OF
the sacrilegious chuckler was not dis
covered, but the voice was the voice or
Buckalew. who was incredibly sur
prised to find that he had spoken aloud.
The jury We're out" after the case
had been given to them, seventeen
minutes and thirty seconds by the
watch Claud;ne held in her hand. The
little man, whose fate was now on the
knees Of the gods. looked pathetically
at the foreman and then at the face Of
his lawyer and began to shake vio-
lently. but not with fright. He had
gone to the Jail on Joe's word. as a
good dog g,es whHre his master bids,
trustfully. and yet Happy had not been
able to keep his mind from consider
ing the Horrible chances. Don't wor-
ry." Joe had said It's all right. III
see You through" And he had kept his
worl.
The little man was cleared.
It took Happy long time to get
through what he had to say to his at
toruey in the anterOom, and even then.
of course. he did not manage TO put it
in words, for he had broken down"
with sheer gratitude. Why. d-n me.
Joe," he soJbed. If ever I-if ever you
well. by God. if you ever This
was the substance of his lingual ac-
compiiShment under the circumstances.
But Claudine threw her arms around
poor Joe's neck and kissed him.
Many people were waiting to shake
hands with Joe and congratulate him.
The trio, taking advantage of seats
near the rail, had already done that
somewhat uproariouslYy beforeRe had
followed Happy, and SO had tk$@ and
Ladew, both, necessarily, rdt1tf hur-
riedly. But in the corridors he found,
when he came out OF the anteroOm.
clients, acquaintances. friends - old
friends. new friends and friends he
had never seen before-everybody
beaming upon him and wringing his
hand. as If they had been sure Of it all
from the start
They gathered round him II he stop
ped for an instant and crowded after
him admiringly when he went on
again. making his progress slow. When
he finally came out Of the big doors
into the sunshine, there were as many
people in the yard as there had been
when he stood in the same place and
watched the mob rushing his clients
guards But today their temper was
different. and as he paused moment.
looking down on the upturned. laugh
ing faces, with hundred jocular and
congratulatory salutations shouted up
at him, somebody started cheer, and
it was taken up with thunderous good
will.
There followed the Interrogation Gus
tomary in such emergencies. and the
anxious inquirer was informed by four
or five hundred people simultaneously
that Joe Louden was all right.
Head him off, beloved Mike Shee-
han. suddenly darting up the steps.
The shout increased. and with good
reason. for he stepped quickly back
within the doors and. retreating
through the building, made good his
escape by basement door.
He struck off into long detour; but,
though he managed to evade the
crowd, he had to stop and shake hands
with every third person he met. AS
he came out upon Main street again
he encountered his father.
"Howdy do. Joe?" said this laconic
person aud offered his hand. They