The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1907-07-19
CHAPTER xI1.-fCoxr1xunp.,

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CHAPTER XII.-(CoNr1NuED.,
Tie principal article of furniture In
the Hall of Justice was a long, clumsy
deal table, covered with green baize.
AT the head Of this table sat the presi-
dent and his court, with their hats on,
backed by q heterogeneous collection
of patriots officially connected In va
fious ways with the proceedings that
were to take place. Below the front of
the table. railed-off space, with
gallery beyond, was appropriated by
the general public-mostly represented.
as to the gallery, on this occasion, by
women, all sitting together on forms,
knitting, shirt-mending, and baby-linen
making, as coolly as If they were at
home Parallel with the side of the table
farthest from the great door of en-
trance, was low platform rallied on,
on which the prisoners, surrounded by
their guard, were now assembled to
await their trial. The sun shone in
brightly from high window, and a
hum Of ceaseless talking pervaded the
hall cheerfully, as LomaQue entered it.
He was privileged man here, as at
the prison; and he made his way in by
a private door. so as to pass the pris-
0ners' platform, and to walk round it,
before he got to place behind the
presidents chair. Trudaine, standing
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:
Il have just discovered who the citi-
zen and cheyenne Dubois are. There
is no chance for you but to confess
everything. BY that means you may
inculpate 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 presidents
chair, L0maQue recognized his two
trusty subordinates. Magloire and Pr
card, waiting among the assembled pa
triot officials to give their evidence. Be-
yond them, leaning against the wall, adj
dressed by no one, and speaking to no
one, stood the superintendent, Danville.
Doubt and suspense We're written in
every line of his face; the fretfulness Of
an uneasy mind expressed itself in his
slightest gestures-even in his manner
Of passing handkerchief over his face,
on which the perspiration was gather
ing thick and fast already.
Silence" cried the usher of the court
Tor the time being, hoarse- voiced man
in top-boots, with huge sabre buck
led to his side, and bludgeon in his
hand. "Silence for the citizen-presi
dent!" 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 monetary silence which fol-
lowed was interrupted by sudden con-
fusion among the prisoners on the plat
form. Two of the guards sprang in
q heavy fall-a scream of terror from
some of the female prisoners-then an
other dead silence, broken by one of the
guards, who walked across the hall with
q bloody knife in his hand, and laid it
on the table. "Citizen-president," he
said, II have to report that one of the
prisoners has just stabbed himself"
There was murmuring exclamation
us that all?" among the women spec
tators a. they resumed their work.
Suicide at the bar of justice vas no I'M
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.
Descriptions"
ct :-royalist coachmaker to the ty-
rant Capet."
"Accusation?"
Conspiracy in prison."
The president nodded, and entered In
The "Martigne. coachmaker. Ac-
cused of conspiracy in prison. Antici-
pated course of law by suicide. Action
accepted as sufficient confession Of
guilt. Goods confiscated. LIST Thermi-
dor, year two of the Republic"
''Silence" cried the man with the
bludgeon, as the president dropped a
little sand on the entry, and signing to
the gaOler that he might remove the
dead body closed the book.
"Any special cases this morning." re-
snmed the president. looking round at
the group before him.
There is one," said Lomaque, maxi
ing his way to the back of the official
chair. "Will it be convenient to you.
citizen, to take the case of Louis Tru-
dame and Rose Danville first? Two of
my men are detained here as witnesses
and their time is valuable to the Repub-
JIG" Fl
The president marked a list of names