The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-27

you know your ! .;c.D =cs"
The ca.ttin grinned broadly
Il guess do. Don't we, Maloncy?"
"Yes, cap.," said Maloney, quietly.
The coroner turned to go.
We'll, there's nothing more for me
10 Go here. The man is dead. Let
Justice take it's course" Addressing
The undertaken, he said:
You can remove the BODY"
The men set about the work i'm
mcdiately. Carrying the corpse into
the inner room, they commenced the
work of laying it out.
Il suppose" said the coroner. "that
you'll take your prisoner immediately
to the station house, and before the
magistrate tomorrow morning?"
Not just yet" grinned the captain
II want to put few questions to him
first"
The coroner smiled.
You're going to put him through
the third degree eh? Every ones
heard OF your star-chamber ordeals.
Are they really so drcadful?"
"Nonsense!" laughed the captain.
I'VE wouldn't harm a baby, would we,
Maloney?"
The sergeant quickly indorsed his
chiefs opinion.
mo, cap"
turning to go. the coroner said:
well. goodnight, captain"
"(YOOd n Ob
Howard listened to all this like one
transfXed They seemed to be talk
ing about him. They were discussing
some flightful ordeal of which he was
to be victim. What was this third
degree they were talking about? Now
ne remembered. He had heard of in.
nocent men being bullied, maltreated,
deprived OF food and sleep for days,
IN order to force them to tell what
the police were anxious to find out
lie had heard of secret assaults, of
midnight clubbings, of prisoners being
choked and brutally kicked by a gang
of rufiianly policemen, in order to
force them into some da:, og.ng ad-
mission. A chill ran down :! : spine
as he realized his utter he. ..,I ness.
II he could only get word to Il Il, yer.
Just as the coroner was disGp ring
through the door, he darted III ard
and laid hand on his arm
Mr.. Coroner, won't you Lctca to
me?' he exclaimed.
The coroner startled, drew bGo,,..
Il cannot interfere" he said coldly.
MIR. Underwood was a f. ieAd of
mine," explained Howard. Il came
here to borrow money. | foii asleep
on that sofa. When | woke Up he
was dead. | was frightened. tried
to get away That's the truth, so
nelp me God"
The coroner looked at him sternly
and made no reply. No one could
ever reprOach him with sympathiziug
with criminals. Waving his hand at
Capt. Clinton, he said:
Goodnight, captain"
Goodnight, Nj Coroner"
The door slammed and Capt. Gin.
ton, with twist of his powerful ann,
yanked his prisoner back into his
seat. Howard protested.
you've got no right to treat me
like this. You exceed your powers.
| demand to be taken before a magis-
trate at once"
The captain grinned, and pointed to
the clock
Say, young fel'cr, see what time it
Is? TwO-thirty a. m. Our good mag
istrates are all comfy in their virtu-
Gus beds. Wen have to wait till
morning"
"But what's the good of sitting here
In this death house?" protested How
ard Take me to the station if
must go. It's intolerable to sit any
longer here"
The captain beckoned to Maloney.
mot so fast, young man. Before
we 60 to the station We want to ask
you few questions. Don't we. Ma
loncy?"
The sergeant came over, and the
captain whispered something in his
ear Howard shivered Suddenly
turning to his prisoner, the captain
shouted in the stern tone of COM
mand:
Get up"
Howard did rs he was ordered. He
felt he must. There was no resisting
that powerful brUtc's ''.' @. .U lOri-