The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1914-12-04

keep silent. He had urged my reten-
ton. declaring in positive terms that |
was qualified in every respect. He
knew of my acquaintance with Miss
Flaync and doubtless had e enough
to make him seize the first opportunity
to nip an ~inconvenient friendship in
the bud. Was it possible under the cir
c11mstanceS for me to credit anything
the man said: Would l not instinctive-
" refute his every argument and doubt
his most convincing proofs? Was it
not to my interest to do so! If he had
as strong Il ease as he claimed l would
either have to stultify myself in my
own eyes or agree with his contention
and end Il friendship which involved
my w happiness. l was hopelessly
trapped.
You take this thing far too serious
ly. Mr.. Lnmhert.'
Gilbert laid his hand IN my shoulder
as he spoke. but | impatiently shook
myself free.
I'VE all recognize that jury duty in
wolves Il good deal OF SacritiCe.' he con-
tinued calmly. "hut I'm sure both sides
appreciate having Il man of your cali
Der in the box as foreman. Moreover.
YOU can rest assured that Brother
FarStow uoesn't want me to hear what
YOU learned about the case IT it's
against him. and | certainly don't want
him to hear it if it's against me. SO
evcrybody'S satisfied
His testing words We're uttered with
Il friendly smile. but they grated on
me. and | turned abruptly to the door.
The law isn't Il game" | asserted.
with marked severity. but Gilbert at
tempted to turn my rcpr"ot.
It's sort of Il game. isn't it. Bar
stow" he inquired, With ii comic eN-
precision of doubt.
The defendants counsel shot an an
CRY glance at his opponent.
you'll find it Il game that two can
play at" he retortel menacingly as he
brushed past us through the door.
Had | known as much law at the
cpening of the Emory trial as did ut
its close | would never have resumed
my scat in the jury box. but at the
time | know of no alternative.
Moreover. despite all my eXaspera-
ton and suspicion. | had Il guilty feel
ing that | had not been entirely frank
with the court. for | knew very we'll
that it was not my experience at the
Shaw farmhouse. but my acquaintance
with Barbara Frnyne. which was the
true source of my embarrassment. The
1>-1 1-n al o
not vitality affected my judgment, but
the new influence which had come into
my life was too powerful to he ignored
and too sacred to be lightly surrender
ed. ! could not have explained this,
however, in Deake Gilbert's presence
without making myself ridiculous. but
had | done so | would doubtless have
succeeded in forcing my release. Ger
tainly if | had told of Miss Frayne's
attempt t" retain me on the jury l
would have been allowed 10 resign, but
this disclosure might have cost her
something more unpleasant than ridi-
Guile.
The our crier interrupted these con-
flicting emotions as | resumed my
place in the jury box. and the audi
ence rose as Judge Dudley entered the
room and assembled the bench.
Prior to my Melton experience | had
pictured the bench as a'Sort of throne
cushioned and canopied with stately
mn-niticencc and reached by Il fight
of low. broad steps. A~nd-yes-l re-
member there was always Il generous
display OF ermine draped careleSsly in
the foreground. Even the expression
"elrvated to the bench had Il mystical
significance to my mind. nm pos
Silly I associated it with "the eleva-
ton of the host but, anyway, it con-
veyed the impression of a pompous
ceremony letitting my conception of
the judicial throne.
But the bench of the Melton court
house was merely Il cane lnttoned
swing chair placed before Il large yell
low table desk which rested On an UNI
rnrpetcd board platform six or eight
inches high. This un~prctcntiolS dalS
WAS. however. in entire Keeping with
the courtroom itself. whose bare walls,
uminou~ly cracked ceiling and rough.
bare floor We're not by amy means i'm
prcSSivc. Even the jury box WAS no
box at all. but merely Il square pen
large enough to admit twelve highly
Uncomfortable chairs arranged in three
tiers. This and the rail guarding the
bench, two tables. one chairs for the
use Of lawyers and Il number of pew
like sctteeS for the public. comprised
the furnishings of the court. As Il
country schoolroom it might have pass
ed muster. but as :, hall of Justice it
! lacked something of dignity.
That something. however. WAS sup
piled Gy the presence of tn" Hon. Co.
| plaS dudley. The moment Ii" entered
the place WAS Transformed. al its
mralnp>$ and choaplcSs disappeared,
and as he stood behind the ugly vel
low desk and bowed to the public and
the bar | felt hat the mhjeSty Of the
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