The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1908-06-05
CHAPTER XIV.

Yhe next morning every aValIaOle
seat was filled early. People had
blocked the rough plank walks lead
ing to the courthouse long before the
doors were unlocked. The day prom |
ised to be fine, and the many teams |
coming and going between Kemah and !
the river to pick up the Nelpen peop- !
pie who had crossed the ice on foot
gave to the little town somewhat OF
the gala appearance Of fair time. Ihe
stately and blanketed SiOuS from their
temporary camps on the fiat were
standing around. uncOmmunicatlVe,
waiting for proceedings to begin. Long
before the judicial party had arrived
from the hotel the cramped room was
crowded to its limits. There was
loud talking, laughing and joking.
Local wits amused themselves and
others by throwing Quips at different
members Of the county bar or their
| brethren from across the river as they
walked to their places inside the rail
! ingS with the little manneriSms that
were peculiar to each.
The door in the rear Of the bar
opened and Judge Dale entered. A
comparative quiet fell upon the peo'
pie He mounted to his high bench.
The clerk came in, then the court re-
porter. She tossed her note books
on the table, leisurely pulled off hel
gloves and took her place, examining
the end OF her pencils with a critical
eye. 1t would be busy day for the
gal reporter" Then LangtCrd came
showing his way down the crowded
aisle with a sad-faced, broWneyed,
! young woman in his wake, who yet
held herself erect with proud little
tilt to her chin. There was not an
q empty seat outside the bar. Louise
o motioned, and he escorted Mary to
:. place within and sat down beside her
: The jurymen were all in their chairs
+ Presently came in Gordon with hlS
q quiet, self-reliant manner. Langtor(
~ had been right The county attOrne.
o was not tired to-day.
r Shortly after Gordon came Small
S Small, the dynamic, whose explosive
had so often laid waste the weak an
@ abortive independent reasoning pc"
% ers of odd Necessity" and his sor
h and were the subject Of much Satlr
IS and some admiration when the legs
X fraternity talked shop" AS he strod
If to his place he radiated bombs of jus
and telling wrath. He sCintillated wit
4 aggressiveness. With him came Jess
vt Black, easy and disdainful as Of oil
H. After them, small man came glldln
in with as little commotion as II
III were sliding over the floor of wake
10 dancing hall in patent leather pump
or He was al unaSsuming little man WI
quick, cat-like movements which OF
ou lost if one were not on the alel
ee When he had slipped into a chair ne
70 his associate, Small, the intlammaD
Small, lowered above him head al
IN, shoulders.
mt Every inch the criminal audih
observed a stranger, an Engllshm
mi over to invest in lands for stocking
w horse ranch. Strange how they
n ways wear the imprint on their fac
"a No escaping it. fancy that is WI
ID the Scriptures meant by the mark
81 Cain
n The remark was addressed to no
particular but it reached the ears
III Jim Munson, who was standing ne
\ Good Lord, man." he said, with
II grin, that's the plumb smartest cri
inal lawyer in the hull county Tha
Il a fac. Lord Lord. Him Jesse Blacl
IN His risibilities continued to thus
Il the better of his gravity at freQu
ri intervals during the day. He ne
n failed to snort aloud in pure DELI
~ whenever he thought of it. Wha
~ tale for the boys when he could
to them!
These cattle men," This time
tenderfoot communicated with h
self-he had a square chin and a
rect eye; there were possibilities
him. Their perverted sense OF
ridiculous is diabolical."
(TO BE CONTINUED)