The Washington herald., 1911-11-23
CHAPTER xLn-Continued.

Permit me to relieve your apprehen
sions 1t is Turberville who has received
The appointment. Would you like to ex
anime my credentials:-I have them b!
memo? 1 am obliged for your introduc
ton. 1t could not have come at mor'
timely moment" The judge seemed t.
dismiss Fentress contemptuously. Onct
more he faced the packed benches. ''Pu
down your Weapons!" he commanded
This man Murrell will not be released
At the first effort at rescue he will b'
shot where he sits-we have sworn it
his plotting is at an end. he stalKec
nearer the benches, Not one chance II
a thousand remains to him. Either M
dies here or he lives to be taken before
every Judge in the State, If necessary
until we find one with courage TO uS
him. Make no mistake-it will best con
serve the ends of justice to allow the
State courts Jurisdiction in this case; anc
/ pledge myself to furnish evidence whicf
will start him well on his road to the
gaIlowsi' The judge, tremendous pres
euce. stalked still nearer the benches
Outfacing the crowd, a sense OF the SPLEEN
dor of the part he was being called upon
to play flowed through him like some
elixir: he felt that he was transcendlne
himself, that his inspiration was drawn
from the hidden springs of the spirit, aho
that he could neither falter nor go astray'
..You don't know what you are meddllne
with, This man has plotted 10 lay tne
South in ruins-he has been arrnlng tne
negroes-it is incredible that you shoulO
all know this-to such l say go MONS
and thank God for your escape! For the
ntbers'-bis shaggy brows met In q
menacing frown-'if they force our hano
we will toss them John Murrels oeao
csrcass-that's our answer to their chal'
lenge!"
He strobe out among the gun muzzles
which wayered where they still covered
him. He was thinking OF MahanS-
Mahaffy, who had said he was sui
man to be reckoned with. For the com
fort of his own soul he was proving IL
DO YOU know what a servile insuF-
rection means? You men who nave
wives and daughters, have you thougn'
of their fate? OF the monstrous say.
agery to which they would be exposed
Do YOU believe he could limit and con-
troll it? Look at him! why, ne mas
never had a Consideration outside OF
his own safety, and yet he expects you
TO risk your necks to save MS! he
would have left the State before the nrst
blow was struck-his business was all
down river-but we are going TO keep
him here TO answer lOI Ills ~ AAA4SS-
law. as inplacabie as it is impartial, has
nut its mark on him-the shadow IN
which he sits is the shadow of the gal
lows
The Judge paused. but the only sound
in that expectant silence was the heavy
breathing of men. He drew his I'M
wieldy form erect, while his voice rum
bled on. aggressive and threatening IN
its every intOnation.
You are here to defend something
that no longer exists. Your organiza-
lion is wrecked, your signals and pass
words are known, your secrets have be-
come public property-I can even pro-
duce a list of your members; there are
none of you who do not stand IN imml-
nent peril-yet understand, 1 have no
wish to strike at those who have been
misIed or coerced into joining Murrell S
band"' The judges sodden old face
elowed now with the magnanbnlty OF
his sentiments. But I have no feeling
of mercy for your leaders, none for
MurreH himself. Put down your guns!
you can only kill us after We have
,illed Murrell-but you can't kill the
aw. If the arch conspirator dies in
his room and hour, on whose head Will
he punishment fall?'' He swung around
lis ponderous arm in a sweeping ges-
ure and shook a fat but expressive fore
inger in the faces of those nearest him.
On yours-and yours-and yours
Across the space that separated them
The Judge grinned his triumph at his
enemy. He had known when Fentress
entered the room that a word or sign
from him would precipitate a riot, but
he knew now that neither his word nor
this sign would be given. Then, quite
suddenly, he STROBE down the aisle, and
foot by foot Fentress yielded ground be-
fore his advance. \ murderouS light
flashed from the judges bloOdshot eyes.
and his right hand was stealing toward
the frayed tails of his coat.
Look out, He's getting ready to
shoot!' cried a frightened voice.
Instantly by doors and windows the
crowd, seized with inexplicable panic,
emptied itself into the courthouse yard.
Fentress was caught up in the rush and
borne from the room and from the build
Ing. When he reached the graVeled
vpace below the steps he turned The
Judge was in the doorway, the center OF
minister; Mr.. Saul, and Mr.. Wesley were
vainly seeking to pinion his arms.
"Draw-dama you!' he roared at Fen
tress, as he wrenched himself free, and
the crowd swayed to right and left as
Fentress was seen to reach for his pistol.
Mr.. Saul made a last frantic effort to
restrain his friend. He seized the judges
arm just as the latter's finger pressed
the trigger, and an instant later Fem
tress staggered back with the judges
bullet in his shoulder.