El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-12-12
The Herald's
Daily Short Story
woman prayed for her husbands safe

woman prayed for her husbands sale
return.
In due course Joe was brought before
the magistrates-four of them Iliieo
with wisdom and a vast sense of their
own importance As Joe was hustleo
into the dock he looked mere wreck
of his former sturdy self The shot ne
had received had been merely flesh
wound which had quickly yielded 10
the skill of the police surgeon, but ne
was still weak and i'll, and seemed hall
dazed. His thoughts were far away
they had scared beyond the narrow
confines of the court, and were 1ixeo
on a little neglected portion OF the VII
lage cemetery where the paupers were
buried.
His wife lay there now, killed by the
shock of his capture, and as he thoush'
Of it everything seemed to grow black,
black, black When they had told him
the news, upon his recovering con-
scions, his spirit had broken, and ne
cared not what man did with him.
But the worthy justices were in great
form Having just partaken of hearty
breakfast the four opponents or Justlce,
as they understood it, were determined
TO discharge their duties without 1eeI
or favor Besides, their rights had
been invaded, and their privileges
usurped The sacred ground OF one OF
their class had been trodden by pleblan
feet and two rabbits shot. raoplts
mark you. which had been created sole-
~ for their stomachs-
No wonder they fumed.
But it was so fortunate. they told
themselves, that the keeper had beer
wounded. Public opinion, degenerate
as 1t was. might object to a severe SEN
tence for rabbit stealing, but no one
could justify wounding, one might al
most say attempted murder
AS the charge was read to Joe ne
muttered, Guilty"
Presently they asked him had NJ
anything to say.
Slowly he raised his head and stared
at those who sat in judgment
Anything to say" he muttereo
thickly: what good would that do?
am poor and down. You are rich and
the law is on your side. You have kill
ed my wife, yes. by heaven you have
My children are paupers by now, ano
YOU have ruined me. That is your work
and the law says nothing L took two
rabbits to feed my family, as any mai
would have done, and the law comes
down on me. For the shooting l an
sorry. I was mad, I suppose. but say
this. ne stepped lOI"dIN dAO iS<AAANN
over the dock rail- that if l was hun
CRY 1 would poach again Justice. Yot
talk of Justice! 1t is justice L want
You"
But he got no further. Two consta-
bles seized him and he was forced into
silence.
MY. man." said the presiding dig
nitarv. such behavior only blacken:
YOUR case. I think we may take 1t yoJ
have no defence to offer"
Maddened by his tones, Joe brok'
from the restraining hands that helc
him.
Give me back what you have stolen,
he cried My wife. my home Justice
for the POOR
Again he was seized and forced Vlo'
lently backwards. For one tense mo
ment the court watched. breathlessly
the struggle in the dock. Then sudden
" an ominous hush stole over tn
place. The policemen relinquished thei
brutal hold on the accused man. an'
fell away in horror Joe lay huddle'
up and motionless On the floor OF tn
! dock. With frightened faces the bencl
held a hurried consultation. They ha'
| no need to pass sentence, higher an'
more merciful power had forestalle'
! them and had already passed sentence
! For Joe was dead.