Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-12
CONTINUED FROM PAGE TWO

able paper, while the motley crowd OF lumber
men were seated around the walls.
Mr.. Stoddard arose. and came forward
with stumbling gait.
"Wil you administer the oath, or shall
asked the newly-fedged lawyer, turning to
the magistrate.
"You cam" said the squire.
"Hold up your right hand" commanded
Mr.. Mountain, rising to his feet, and look
ing severely at Rob's accuser.
Mr.. Stoddard complied, with some trepida-
tion.
Nov, you solemnly swear to tell the
truth, the whole TRUTH and nothing but the
truth, SO help you God"
There was a certain awful impresslyeness
in the voice and manner of Rocky that
thrilled his hearers strangely, and Mr. otod-
dards tones sank low. as he answered:
81 do
"What are your charges against this boy!
''He must "a stole that money, rephed
Mr.. Stoddard, regaining his confidence soTe-
what as his mind reverted to his loss.
"Have you any proofs?
"No, / dunno ez | hey; only he must a
took it. Who else did, He said it was gone,
an there was no one else to take IT.. us
Jest ez Gear ez day. We're only afooln
away time. an | think we orter wind this
thing up, SO we kin git somethin' to eat.
Don't you, squire" added MIR. Stoddard,
turning to that functionary, who sat in utter
bewlderment.
Remember" interrupted Mr.. Mountain,
sternly, that you are under oath, and any
deviation from the truth is perjury Can
you say that Robert Archer stole the money
in question:" -
"No. not exactly. But it looks terribly like
it." replied Mr. Stoddard, dogeedy.
"It is proof we want, not superstition,
admonished Rocky Haven't you every rea-
son TO believe that this boy is honest?'
eyes, / s'pose / hev."
''What reason have you for thinking him
honest?'
Mr.. Stoddard looked uneasiy at Justice
Holbrook.
cam | bound to answer?" he questioned
neryousy
eyes. think you are, according to what
you swore to. Perjury's serious crime,
replied the squire, who began to feel that
this trial was, after all, no trivial affair.
His respect for Mr.. Mountain had increas-
ed wonderfully as the man made use OF
words altogether beyond his comprehension
"Ef / must, | must" said Mr.. Stoddard,
after a short pause, during which he shifted
from one foot to the other foot. Il tried
to cit him to give false count of the logs"
The words came slowly, though their
utterance cost the speaker tremendous eff
fort. Then he turned appeahngly toward the
magistrate.
I he'd to do it; stumpage is 50 high"
The justice Of the peace nodded
ooh, yes; that's expected" he said, ex-
$50 you tried to get this boy to render.
false account of the lumber hauled, in order
to defraud the landowners" said Mr., Noun
tain, sternly, after few moments bnslly spent
in writing. And, pray, what answer did ne
"He said somethin' bout not dom a dis
honest thing-jest as though didn't know
what honesty was. Wouldn't "a been cheat
ed eff I'd turned in all the logs / hauled?'
Mr.. Stoddard had worked himself up to
quite pitch of virtuous indignation.
"Then, when this boy refused to render
fraudulent account Of the lumber hauled, how
'Well, I-I-iest,,I- Must | answer
magistrate for help a second time.
Again Squire Holbrook nodded. To him
law was law. and an oath was thlng OF
"You said as how you'd tell the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth"
The wolish jaws of the magistrate closed
over his deep-set eyes, and for once in his life,
as he glowered at Rocky Mountain he felt
that he had found more than his match.
"WelI. then, arter Rob Archer said he
wouldn't do the fair thing, had the landln'
tenders give him in a, wrong count every
night, an. in this way l was argoln' to hold
my own"
luctance of a person who feels that he must
perforce utter the words.
Rob Archer, who sat near Rocky, Noun
tain's chair. trembled, and his pale face
grew paler still. Then his. cheeks flushed
Rotiy, and he sprang to his feet. -,
$50 / kept a false account after all !" he
cried, with sudden indignation. What will
father say when he hears Of thisY
His brief courage failed him. and he. sank
down in the chair again, sobbing as though
his heart would break.
'What'll he say when he hears We stole
But MI. Mountain spoke up sharply.
aBe silentl You just now admitted under
oath that you tried to corrupt this boys
honesty Failing in that, you did corrupt
otba.a nd oausad an inn0eent youth to make