Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-08-02

and a disciplinarian second only to DR..
Sullivan himself. The two were close
friends and Indispensable to each other
in certain ways. Both, in fact were
magistrates. but no magistrate was
competent to deal judicially with his
own offending convicts, and thus an
interchange of mutual favors was kept
up between the pair.
They would meet on Mondays at the
courthouse situated midway between
their respective strongholds and at
this courthouse DR.. Sullivan would
oblige Mr.. Strachan by sentencing any
servant of the latter TO as many lashes
as his master liked, while Mr. Strachan
was only too glad to do the same for
Dr. Sullivan. So great was the mu-
Z tual convenience that either potentate
was delighted to hold special In
quiry in any exceptional case to oblige
the other, and one was held according
~ In the forenoon following Toms as
Sault upon his masters son.
A mounted messenger was dispatch
ed to Mr.. Strachan, who sent back
word that he would be at the court
house as soon after - o'clock as pos
sible. And he arrived within few
minutes of DR.. Sullivan, his red beard
ed oyerseer and the culprit. who had
spent the night in heavy irons, which
he still wore
The doctor led his brother magis-
trate. aside. and Tom. raising his lack
ulster eyes for once, watched them
i; yx.01 l.fpr nrro in Opy,, IN fha Oy,k
for several minutes before entering
the courthouse. Ginger stood by and
told the constables the kind of man
Tom was. Tom heard him without q
word or look. The constables agreed
that, whatever else he was, he was
evidently a sulky brute. Tom heard
them, too, but sat doggedly in the
strong sunlight, with sullen eyes upon
the two magistrates, whom he instinc-
lively knew to be deciding his fate
before the case began. Not word
had he spoken since the irons had been
clamped upon his limbs and clasped
about his SOUL
Not word did he speak in the JUS
tice room within. His attention, how
extremely moderate tone in which the
charge was preferred against him. DIR.
Sullivan put on his oath, gave q per-
fectly true account of what he had
himself seen and heard In the small
hours of that morning. He even nd
mitted, in response to question from
the bench, his impression that his son
was the first to raise hand aud add
ed Of his. own accord hope that that
circumstance would be taken into due
consideration on his servants behalf.
Tom could hardly believe his ears.
He was still lost in wonder at this ex-
traordinary intercession on the part of
Or. Sullivan, of all men, when Mr..
Strachan addressed him In q tone no
less clement and benign.
You are charged" said he, with a
very grave offense, which you do not
attempt to deny. III the ordinary
course should feel compelled to COM
nit you to another court, and your
lightest punishment would be a term
In the chain gang, even If you were not
sent straight away to Norfolk island.
1t is your good fortune, however, to
have been assigned to humane and
1nerctful master, who has spoken for
you as am bound to say should not
have done in his place. He has mag
unanimously made the most Of the one
slender point that might be urged in
your favor. He has begged me to deal
with you here and now. He is gener.
Ously anxious to give you another
chance, of which, for your own good, /
would exhort you to take grateful adj
vantage. Meanwhile you have not me
to thank, but Dr. Sullivan entirely, for
the ridiculously inadequate punish
ment which am about to order you.
You will be taken into the yard, and
you will receive fifty lashes with the
cat o. nine tails"
AT these words Tom turned very
white and opened his lips as If to
speak, but shut them tight without a
syllable. Ills logged eyes cleaned,
his handouts rattled md his leg irons
clanked together as the constables took
him by either arm aud led him with.
out murmur from the room.
Did say too much?" asked Mr.
Strachan. biting at cheroot. when the
magistrates were left alone.
Not one word" replied the doctor
cordially. II am Infinitely obliged to
you for saying what you did-for the
constables' benefit particularly. They
seemed to see nothing wrong"
Mr.. Strachan shook his head.
1t was distinctly irregular. doctor.
A clearer case for quarter sessions
have never heard
Perhaps not; but then ! should
have lost most competent groom,
and now, thanks to you, shall keep
him.
Are you sure he will be worth keep
ing after this?" asked the Anglo-In-
dian, sucking at his cheroot, which
< was but a shade darker than his with
cred face.
Worth keeping? He will be better
worth 1t than before. It does them
good"
.eThat is not my invariable expert
ence," said Mr.. Strachan, shaking his
head again.
but 1t is mine,' cried the doctor.
'sThey are never any good until they
feel your power. They never feel your
power until they have first felt the
lash" And he emphasized the senti-
ment by giving the table a cut with his
cane.
~ have NOT alwnys found II So"