The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-04-25

anu, lnueeu, the setting was
unique. Buxom damsels in purple
Of amazing size In the highly colored
Autographs on the wall. A spangled
fan hid an unsightly stove pipe hole.
The spiders had woven their webs be-
tween the following curtains Of
coarse lace at the dingy. hy-specked
windows. and the floor was Uttered
with the furnished gilt which had
dropped In chunks from the gaudy
moulding.
The Judge with deliberate move!
ment took his seat in q faded plush
chair upon the raised platform where
the orchestra Of the dance hall had
twanged Its wild music.
A plank across two stout whiskey-
barrels made q satisfactory desk and
what with a short axe-handle for a
gavel, O pitcher and glass. together
with the armful of imposing volumes
which the Judge laid upon II. the
furnishings, though novel. seemed
The Judge shifted as he sat down.
He looked at the whiskey- barrels
they had long been empty; then he
reached for the pitcher and regarded
its contents long and steadfastly be-
fore he applied Its side to his lips.
"Ah-h-!" II was not known In
Hopedale that the Judge derived such
satisfaction from q cooling drink of
water.
Rather az due the weight Of his
honorable office than from necessity.
the Judge settled pair OF nickel
plated spectacles upon his rudy nose
before ne looked over the courtroom
and inquired blandly:
HAS this here gent got airy lawyer
to defend him?"
NH vxaI
one, since II was well known that Bob
waS to appear for Ben, and the
crowd which filled the improvised
benches was due largely to curiosity
arising from this fact
Bob rose from his seat on a box,
near the judicial key.
Il am counsel for the defendant,
Your Honor"
"Your Honor!" Tho visible SWELL
ing Of the Judges chest made him
pitch backward. He regarded Bob
severely:
Air you a Jim-crow. or a regular
iawyer7'
II have been regularly admitted to
tho New York bar"
The Judge considered n volume.
pursed his lips and considered.
"In which case" ne said finally, II
reckon you air entitled to practise In
this court with my permission"
Bob bowed deferentially: II thank
you"
The Judges hand executed a mag
unanimous flourish and Fritz Poth
pinched himself. Could that imposing
parsonage. 30 severe and profound
that the most audacious dared not
address him Familiarity, be the same
that he had elected from his hotel the
night before for retiring with his
boots on?
The Judge raised the pitcher to his
lips, removed the moisture with the
back Of his hand. and tapped sharply
on the plank with the ax handle:
"This here court will come to order
-pronto!"
Silence fell.
"The Jury will como 20 the front
and set on this bench az ] reads on
their names. Old Man Hathaway"
Ben leaned and whispered to Bob
as a shifty-eyed person rose expect
antly and shuffied forward.
"Challenge!" Bob called peremp-
torily.
Surprise was everywhere.
"Who you Challenger. young feller?'
inquired His Honor. taken aback
"This IL no time to start anything he
admonished.
The Judge stiffened.
''That may be law In New York. but
faint here" replied His Honor. we
make ourn to suit ourselves. Hatha.
way, slide along on that bench ano
, make room for Johnny-Behind-the'
Deuce!"
. lar poker debt" Ben whispered.
och. .llenge!" Bob called sharply.
The gambler. who bore q surprising
resemblance to the Jack OF Spades
hesitated.
"You hop into that seat" command
cd the Judge. French Pete!"
Hes diggin' post-holes for spiser,'
was the information Ben impaired.
Look Sere!" the Judge tI,rnet
fercely upon Bob "you cut in agair
/, and III fine you for contempt o.
, court -,
Bob returned imperturbably: ct
, merely want our objections noted. be
: cause, Of course. we'll appeal this
/, case II the verdict Ia against VS."
The Judge brought the axe handle
down with a rcsounding thwack.
man No verdict Of this here cour1
-, was ever set aside yet. When cat
: tie thief gets sentence here he does
Tune.
% trada, come forward and fill up tfhs
!, bench. Five Jurors are enough or
7 this case"
i. Five Jurors like those are enoug,
. on any case" Bob observed. signifi'
cantly, and another burst OF laughter
/, evidenced the spectators appreciation
: Of his meaning.
'sThe Judge reached for the pitcher
and drank long and deep.
4 "Ah-h-hi" The rasping sound wa,
" beginning to bring an exchange o
. suspicious 6tances In tho courtroom
= "Gentlemen"-the Judge swung tn
I plush chair toward the self-consciou
Jury, who looked uncommonly like
Z row of jailbirds-"this ID q serious cas-
. what 10 up before US to-day, and on
. with which we have NO manner o
b sympathy. Cattle and horse thievin
must be stomped out In this commu
nifty. and It's up to you to DO tn
stompin'.
"The name Of Las Vsrdas Count
}. has allus been kept pretty nigh a. pur
and unpolluted as It's air. all excep
y them seventeen rustlers what wa
1t swung over the blum. And how ha
l. Il been kept so7"
y The avo jailbirds looked at each 9th