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

ben Evans
Ben Evans" The Judges face
assumed an expression OF cunning.
Were that your name whore you
came from or one what pleased your
Fancy when you come into the terri
tory?"
Ben answered CURLY:
ITS my name anywhere"
"Whatcha gotta say. Mr.. Evans.
about this here rustlin' charger" The
Judges tongue sounded a little thick
md his eyes. as he fixed them upon
Ben. watered weakly. Air you guilty.
young feller?"
"No: and what I have TO say won't
take long. l never run cure brand
on Spiser's cows. and he knows 1t.
The rusthn's on the other side and
] can prove 1t. That's all l got 10
say, and you can believe 1t or not. as
you blame please"
The prisoner sat down abruptly.
would 1t not be as well. Your
1ionor.'-again the Judges spine
stiffened-"a trifie more regular, per-
haps, to swear the jury and to re-
quest the plaintiff first to state his
case?"
Bob's tone and manner was all def
erence as he arose to make the sug-
gestion, but Nan saw his lips twitch
over no SllRHtly Ut lHt COTHeTS.
The judge closed his eyes and con-
sidered these points for a time, purs-
ing his lips as he deliberated.
1t might be as we'll to humor this
stranger. he reasoned. 1t would ap-
pear more impartial: and IL was
really a small matter. after all,
whether the prisoner defended HIM
self before he knew exactly OF what
he was accused. or afterward. The
judges hand sought the pitcher and.
though his eyes were still closed. he
found the handle with unerring In
stinct.
"Ah-h-h! Poth, do you think you
can jump up a Bible handy?"
They was one here"-Poth raised
the dust OF many months as he FUN
blad on a shelf-''but a doggone pack
rat got away with most OF 1t. know
where they's a mail-Order stores cat
alogue--a sheep herder's Bible Is bet
ter than nothin'. jedge. Here's what's
left OF it, Poth held up the chewed
remnants. adding cynically:
"'Tain't becomin.' Mr.. Poth." said
, the Judge reprovingly. in a gent al
sells as poor whiskey as you do To
cast slurs at the Gospel. VIII the
Hon. Hank T. Spiser kindly step for
ward and swear HIMSELF"
against the wall in the rear OF the
room. extracting vast satisfaction
from Ben's predicament, Mans pale
face and anxious eyes. now pushed
his way to the front aud "swore him
SELF upon the tattered Bible.
This fellow" he nodded contempt
uously toward Ben, was foreman fol
me for over a year and gave fair sat
isfaction until a certain party"-his
face was ugly with a sneer-'camt
into the country when he began &c
neglect his work. and fired him. H'
was sore and threatened to get even
He went into partnership with @
hester down In the Longhorn bosqu'
and their herd didn't grow fas
enough to suit 'ep. My foreman saw
some suspicious looking brands II
their bunch. ! hired couple OF
Mexicans to trail 'em and he found Il
, no great job to come up on this fellow
, Evans burning a brand. I had hin
, arrested and that's all there Is to it,
, He turned to leave the stand.
> Bob stopped him with a quick ges
I ture.
Just a moment, II you please, Mo-
: quite all there Is to It. Mr. Spiser. II
) you will try you may recall the fac
that at the time you discharged EvanI
' he reported having come upon YOU
. present foreman In the act OF burn
/ ing q brand on ono Of Blakely''
: cows"
3 "He did not report IT," returned
Spiser coolly.
Bob's restraining hand upon Bon
: arm kept him In his seat
MOP" Bobs tone was polite in
: quiry. But II I should tell you tina
he did see your present foreman II
: tho act OF burning a brand, that
y also was witness, you would, 0
7 course, discharge him."
y Spiser replied with heat:
Il 'That's my business"
: withdrawing" And again th'
4 courtroom snickered at Bob's au
u dacity.
:. IT appeal to the court" Spise
r turned furiously upon His Honor, %
didn't come up here TO be insulted!
. 'Tha'sh right" The Judge endcav
ored to rap for order. but missed tn
niAak and brought the axs-AAndi