Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-12
You'll

| frightened boy was ushereds lacked even the
| cheerful appearance of his own humble home.
Squire Holbrook met them at the door.
| He was thickset, stoop-shouldered man,
with grizzled hair and beard, bushy eyebrows,
from b1eath which fch. Pair Of small gray eyes
:" Ah, Mr.. Stoddard! how d. dor he said,
with rude, pompousness, which told palmer
than words how well aware be was of the
whats the matter! Anything in my line?
| Come in
The men fingered in the doOr-yard,, with
White WI sSs and Rocky Mountain Who accompanied
Mr.. .Stoddard and his trembling prisoner into
@Weil, III tell We, SQUIRE said Mr. stod-
spect for the majesty of the law. I'VE
haint he'd nothin' to eat this mornin, an
were on our way now to git somethn'. My
camp burnt up last night,
"You don't say!" remarked the justice.
Il dunno" replied Mr.. stoddard, careful
ly like one who is feeling his way along
"Bill McGregor woke us up hollerin' Fire
an we Jest managed to save our beddin' an
traps when the ruff caved in
He paused, and looked around. Bill Nc
Gregor nodded assent, and Mr., Hoibrook,
brows drawn down and his heavy jaws clos
ed tightly, asked
dent?'
I'm feared not" he said. "There was
money took-'most five hundred dollars"
An; And who do you suspecty" asked the
sst6Se ;bS with increased interest ~ did you
Here he is" said Mr.. Stoddard, laying
his hand heavily upon the shoulder of Rob,
who crouched, with blanched cheeks and
quivering form, in rough wooden chair.
And then he related the circumstances con-
nected with the burning of the camp and
the loss of the money
Rob's brain grew orgy, and the room SVEN
before his eyes, but the harsh voice of the
magistrate. quickly brought him to his senses
boy I'm astonshed at youi What did
you do with it?' asked Squire Holbrook, in
his sternest tones.
please, sir. don't know anything about
the money, 1t wasn't in the chest, replied
Rob, family.
The magistrate was about to make some
rupted him.,
MAY it please your honor, this examina
ton or trial, IN my opinion, should be con,
Quoted IN more regular manner, said
Rocky Mountain, quietly.
'Who are you% demanded the justice
looking severely at Mr.. Mountain. How
dare you interrupt the ,eourt|
'As counsel for the defense, l claim that
this boy shall have a fair and impartial
hearing, to which he is entitled by the laws
OF, the State; Your witnesses must be prop
erly sworn.
SQUIRE Holbrook was completely dumfound-
ed. For a full minute he was speeches..
Never before had mortal man dared to qnes-
tion his powers as an officer of the law AT
length he found his voice.
"Young man." he said, with little less CON
fidence in himself, do you know you are
trifing with the law? This here criminal is
undoubtedly guilty, according to what Mr..
Stoddard says, and he must confess or suffer
the consequences.
"He claims to be terrible honest" said Mr.
Stoddard, though to eorroborate the opin-
ion Of the magistrate; but his honesty's too
thin"
LET Mr. stoddard be sworn" interrupted
Rocky, composedly. What he says must be
under OATH"
brook, uneasiy five conducted lawsuits
for twenty years now, and we never swore
no witnesses"
"Then your proceedings were illegal, and
you are liable at any moment to be depriv,,
ed of your power as a magistrate, answered
Rocky. DO you intend to carry this exami-
nation any furtherT,
as Squire Holbrook hestated. 'sWe're a-goin'
to show that this boy knows where that
VERY we'll said Rocky. ''In that event,
the trial must be conducted in a legal man
ner Otherwise Justice Holbrook will be held
< new dignity seemed to suddenly fall
spun, and that beard Of SIX weeks growth
covered his face. He called for pen, ink and
paper, and then, golng, TO the door, request
They filed slowly in, evidently in dread
of the august presence of Squire Holbrook,
though that individual seemed i'll at ease,
"Your honor we are ready to commence
business" said Rocky, respectfully. "Of
what is this boy aceusedy'
the mn 1nag 2 slightly awed by the legal
bearing Of Mr., Mountain.
will Mr. Stoddard, please step forward?"
politely requested Mr.. Mountain, who had
seated himself in the middle of the room be-
| fore a rude stand, upon which he had
strewn the somewhat scanty supply of avail
- r,nnrr1Nnrn ON PACE THREE