The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-05-17
Dan s Day in Court
Copyright. 1911, by Associated Lit
erary press.)

Justice Tolman Nane had case. All
the @male population that was not
working of it should have
been--crowded the fount of justice.
The aforesaid fount was also sec
ond- hand store, so there were plenty
Of seats.
Amy case would have attracted
crowd for lawn was a recog
nized form of amusement in the
sleepy little town. But this was eX-
ceptionally interesting: Dan Welcome
was to he tried for assault and bat
-teFp-it-uaS alleged that he had with
force and arms. struck Bella Soule
I'm the face, hruising and ,dtscoioring
her.
Most of those who gathered for the
trial did not believe Dan was guilty
He had his faults but he was not
the lad TO strike "a woman. And
everybody knew how much he cared
for pretty Bella. They had been
sweethearts since childhood until
Arthur Pine. aided and ahetted by
some Of Bella relatives, had come
between them,
III 1t was Pine now" they said.
wagging unshaven ehins but not
Dan, No sir"
At O'Clock the eavel of ledge
Tole." as he was Familiarity known.
fell with a bang. Court was opened.
A Jury of six men was speedily Sc
cured
"Bunty" shinn,. who was second
assistant prosecuting attorney, be
cause his uncle happened to be pros
ecuting attorney. tossed the hair back
a. l.. nd ga4 laai
the first witness, Arthur s. Pine
Pine had an advantage over nearly
everyone present As shipping clerk
al the furniture factory he had job.
where he could wear a white collar
every day
Tell the jury jus. what occurred
the night Of tho trouble. Mr.. Pine,
directed shinn.
Pine crossed his long legs. He
smoothed with both hands the iank
hair which. parted in the middle,
overriding each low eyebrow, looked
compEacentIY about al the audience.
and began.
.'Well--ah. last Friday night 1t vas.
! was escertin' Miss SouIe home from
the picture show II was about
o'clock when We met this here Wei
come up near Doc smiths. II was
snowin pretty hard and ! didn't REG
ognize him until he was right on us.
His breath smelt LOT Of liquor, Well,
all he blocked the sidewalk SOS We
couldn't git past An he swore real
. Please let us by l says. as polite
as I could.
Now git by an take that with
YOU he says. and strikes Miss Soule
right in the face.
Well All. no gentleman couldn't
stand that, specially as she scream
ed. 80 / punished this here Dan Wei
come
What did you do Arties ." Pop"
Slear asked the question, He was
Dan Welcomes lawyer. a gray whis-
kered. baby faced old party. with
silky voice, a caressing manner and
a wick eddy geared mind that worked
like a steel trap.
To be called ''Artie'' by man who
In everyday life ignored his very ex~
istence. Disconnected Pine
W 'ell-ah~-w hy~-ah, | broke Miss
Soules umbrella over his head and
knocked him down. When he got up
knocked him down again. Then
he run away
The spectacle this story eoHjured ap
was So unusual that even Runty shinn
laughed and stalwart Dams face grim
face relaxed in brief smile.
Don't see no marks on him, Ar
tie" commented old pop" after
looking al Dan with eAaegerated in
terest With dozen words he had
turned the case from near-tragedy to
farce
"Weil-ah. had my gloves on,
explained the clustered Pine. At
nod from Bunty he hastily stepped
out of the witness seat.
'That'S our case. honor. an
nounced shinn.
."Aint you goin' TO swear MISS
soule 90 queried slcar. hlandIy. HE
nodded to where the complainant sat
between her hulldozing uncle and her
thin. harried looking aunt
Heretofore the girl had hidden the
discoloration of her face beneath her
arms of her chair indignantly, her
hurt forgotten. A slow flush rose
In her cheeks. She faced Shinn as il
awaiting the summons.
But the peoples lawyer avoided her
glance. NO" he replied. firmly,
we have made our case with Mr.,
Pine"
= Pop" smiled shook his head at
Bella and called Dan Welcome.
The noisy courtroom, camping on
sofas from which springs protruded.
piano stools, paid the prisoner the
tribute OF profound silence as he
strobe to the witness box. He was
broad -shouldered young fellow, whose
red brown hair ran in crinkly confu-
sion from a good forehead.
How about it, Dan?'' asked Pop"
Slear conversationally. GO back
ways, SO the jury will understand
II guess folks know | don't fight
women" began Welcome Least Of
ALL Bella Soule I've liked her since
we were kids We were engaged till
this Pine came here six months ago,
Bellas uncle got struck on him be-
cause he wears a white shirt week
days. He thought l wasn't good
enough because l drive a team. He
lied about her to me--yes, you did.
Sam addressing his remarks to the
black browed uncle. who had growl-
ed In dissent
A lady in a town lying under the
Rockies was much distressed at hear
ing small clique in her town refer
to themselves as the smart set She
appealed to an ex- United States SEN
'ator and asked him what he under
stood by the term, smart set He