The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1914-11-27

Soii' anu L uOuDieu IL she lctlU the al
SWer. for l could see her eyes follow
ing some Sportslmcn crossing a field be
low us. the sunlight tlashin. from TIL
polished barrels of their guns. and sh,
suddenly turned to me, her face flush
ed with Indignation.
'How can me- kill anything such
day as this" she exclaimed. 1.-The,
must be worse than brutal. Ever
beasts don't kill one another Cor mer.
sport"
shook my head assentingly.
and yet some of the gentlest anf
most sensitive Of men are sportsmen,'
l suggested.
asserted.
Not necessarily" l answered. 1.-The
matter is much more complex than
that"
Il don't think it's complex" she re.
piled. Men shoot harmless animals
for sport because they are essentially
brutal and can't or don't want to live
it down. Isn't that the whole TRUTH
II hardly think So l answered
smilingly.
We'll, I've heard plenty Of reasons
for the compleXity and never one ex-
cuse.' she maintained. But then per-
haps, as Mr.. Gilbert says, l have no
reasoning powers
! He was teasing you." 1 suggested.
Indeed, he wasn't" she asserted,
He was defending some of his own
complexities. l wouldn't like to be a
lawyer she continued musingly.
Would you:"
Il don't think l should" l admitted.
There is a certain fascination in
matching your mind against another's
in actual conflict, and the law affords
about the only opportunities for this.
but
But think Of bounding a human be.
ing to death. Everybody has a horror
of an executioner. but the lawyer who
provides the victim is highly respected
and has no need of a black mask. Is
that another completely"
l made no answer, for I recognized
the dangerous tendency Of the con-
versation, but after a few moments
silence she continued as though | had
replied.
Il dare say you are right" she ad-
mitted retlectively. "Deake Gilbert
isn't essentially brutal. He wouldn't
Intentionally hurt any ones feelings.
suppose, and yet-and vet he will
murder a woman like Alice Emory"
IInr ny,yy1cJ ~,> l--X .. e.
terness tc the words.
You mustn't say that" l burst out
impulsively. 1T isn't right or fair"
She started at the sudden attack.
and her cheeks crimsoned.
perhaps l should not have spoken
so forcibly," l began. for | was a bit
alarmed at my own vehemence. But
l could not bear to hear you say such
a thing, BECAUSE
please don't apologize" she inter-
rupted. You make me feel more
guilty. OF course | ought not to have
said anything of the sort. I'm very.
very sorry. But it all seems so strange
and contradictory to me l can't recon-
cile myself to the situation. Perhaps
some day may understand. But now
everything seems cruelty wrong. You
see, Alice Emory is one OF nv best
friends. Let me tell you about her.
Some years ago.
"Please stop"
The words We're almost n cry of dis
tress, and the girl drew back in sur
prise and alarm.
I'VE must not speak Of this matter
now. Miss Frayne,' l continued, more
calmly, land when l tell you why you
may never want to speak to me again,
and l am solely to blame. for l should
have told you at'once that l am the
foreman of the Emory jury
You arc on the jury
Her whisper was an exclamation of
incredulity and dismay.
Only temporarily l protested. 81
rendered my resignation to Mr.. Gilbert
yesterday, and l so to Melton to con-
firm it tomorrow. But | have been ac-
cepted as a juror, and until am re-
leased | have nc right to hear anything
about the case
why didn't YOU tell me-" she whis-
pered, and then suddenly paused.
Il should have lone So" | admitted,
"Oh. YOU couldn't.' she gasped, a
note of tcary laughter in her voice. II
- sad jurors Wcre-Were half idiots,'
The half of me which is not idiot
enables me to resign |
lightly; but even as | spoke her face
assumed an expression of the deepest
gravity.
ION, you mustn't" she protested
earnestly. You mustn't resign
Il have practically lone so already"
| replied conclusivcly.
You must not. You must not in
deed" she whispered, gazing arnest-
~ into my eyes. with You on the
jury there would be no danger. | trust
you absolutely. You have the inte]]i-
gence to understand and would make
the others see. Promise me YOU won't
resign IrOmiSp-nrOmisa mnw