Evening star., 1922-06-04

of your coatw
| The Judge pulled of his own coat
and laid IT across the bystander's
arm. "On with your coat. son. unless
you're afraid. now that the thing is
down to brass tacks.' -
I'm not afraid" clustered the one
who had challenged on Moosemane.
He stripped on his coat and fung It
toward the extended arm OF the ref
cree. But the Judge deftly caught the
coat, slapped a hand against Il,
grunted his satisfaction. ana Started
away. "Alr hands on deck! Court is
about to reconvene" ..
| &4x r
He had wary eye out for Blais-
delrs rush. whirled, tossed the
coat TO his friend. and received sew
eral blows on his face and breast
without even being logged. Blaisdell
worked after the fashion of the
trained boxer; but the judge. when
the young man lunged close, crooked
the arm which he held at his side,
swung with arm and body both. and
knocked his assailant fiat and sense
less with a blow behind the ear.
Then he put on his coat, took BIais-
dell's from the waiting arm, and
urged the referee to come along.
Certainly noti What in blue blszes
does this mean. Daver'
NO time TO explain. Come into
court. Please, You'll not draw any
attention-theres other business on"
TIL not take the chsnce-I have
an incog to protect"
But you can't afford to miss this,
| I'm going N call
the bench His first shot at the Job.
I've told you all about Pesslee. Can
you, 1 ask you-can you stay away?"
!, mo. I swear I can't"
n At the foot of the stairway two
constables were keeping open a pas
sageway.
Boys, there's a fellow in the alley
just around the corner. Bring him
into court" commanded the Judge.
BE spry.
Winn when he walked into the room
The stranger stood in the ranks, un-
noticed.
Recorder Peaslee" called the
Judge. halting in the middle of the
ONCE.
Mr.. Peaslee was at his desk in the
corner. He rose, mouth open.
Il am not here off1cially-not yet"
stated the Judge. Take the bench.
Recorder Peaslee"
|. Not by a blame sight" shouted
the distracted Official. The crowd
laughed uproariously. The terrors
of Recorder Peaslee regarding his
Job were well understood in olamon.
Take the bench, i tell you. Call
this unruly crowd to order or clear
the room. Its your duty under the
law"
I'm going home" raved Peaslee.
But when he leaped for the door a
man caught him by the shoulders and
looked hard into his face.
MY Gawd, this is q nightmare"
yelled the recorder. You're the
the
THE man clapped his palm over
, L the gasping mouth. He shot
few words into Peaslee's ear in an
undertone, and when he pushed the
, recorder away that Official staggered
|, to the table in dumb obedience.
q The constables arrived, supporting
the blinking BiaisdelI between them.
Mr.. Recorder. I charge myself with
the offense of assault and battery OF
one Blaisdell whom you see-and his
appearance proves the charge. Do
iyour duty" commanded Winn'
The recorder tapped a weak hand.
beckoning the judge, who went to the
table and lent listening ear while
Peaselee hoarsely whispered: what
do I do?"
Fine me ten dollars and the costs
Of court Speak up. Give the thing
dignity"
Peaslee got his husky voice under
control. He had been adtured to up
iheld the dignity of the court, Hazily
he remembered something about the
methods of pronouncing sentence. He
raised his right hand. 20. yea! o.
yea! In the case now on hearing.
For assaulting and battering one
Blaisdell. you are fined ten dollars.
| David Winn. and the costs, and may
the Lord have mercy on your soul"
Then, under cover OF the uprosr OF
hilarity, the judge took his place on
the bench. Out of the pockets Of
! BlaisdelTs coat he dragged papers.
He inspected them. He showed them
to Davenport. '--
You can see for yourself, sir. Here
are notes, memoranda, drafts and re-
drafts of documents. pprporting to be
deeds and identification. saw BIaIs-
dell in conference with Con on the
side of Moosemane at dusk. It's evil
dence, this mess of practice papers.
of a rather crude attempt to set UP
| claimant in plot to discredit
| young Starr. You and ] know well
| enough why the person who owns
| that coat wanted to involve Starr.
| I'm guessing this much, Mr.. Daven-
| port''-he looked into Go6's eyes as
| he spoke, and the man did not ven
I ture TO contradict-"this claimant has
| been well paid. and would forfeit his
| cash bail and disappear. leaving the
| stigma on my student. You and L
realize what thai would have accom-
plished, Nobody wanted your land
But somebody wanted something
else" -t
\
IIIS honor faced the throng. That's
II all for tonight. friends. Con-
stables, clear the room" He threw
Blaisdelrs coat at the young man.
I'm keeping the papers Geod-bye
I'm speaking for the town of Olamon
} when say good UnderstandT
The Judge held to Starts hand ano
| confronted Davenport and Lora-
Mr.. Davenport, why don't you take
the children home with you and talk
TO them out of your wisdom?'
The mill owner nodded to the young
man and ushered him and Lora to-
ward the door. rt.r