Evening star., 1927-06-21

4 u uel Merck was jealous of the
decorum in the criminal court
room. The jury had returned their
verdict and it was noon; with the
passing of the sentence court would
adjourn.
A long beam of sunlight, marked
by the Illuminated particles in its
path, caressed the fine head or the
Judge. The pose was characteristic
of his moments of sentence passing
the head tilted a little sidewise-and
the freuuenters leaned little Tor
ward in their seats. lie began 10
speak Dispa SsiOnately, but in tones
leaving no doubt that the Judgment
met with his own approval, the Judge
sent the defendant to prison because
he had taken a diamond-lncrusted
watch left by careless gof payer
in a locker room where the prisoner
had been employed.
.you didn't need the watch; you
didn't need the money for which you
could sell it; you have no family and
vour wages were good YOU are
fhfef. and of a kind for whom there
is no reformation. My duty is to put
such enemies of society in places OF
safekeeping. 1t is the judgment OF
the court that you be confined in the
state prison at hard labor for 10
years. Court is adjourned"
Judge Merck stepped down from
the bench and made his way by
oriyate doorway to the corridor. He
vo,,ld 90 now to meet his wife in aC-
cordance with the arrangement made
that morning; she would be waiting
for him. He smiled and quickened
his stems as he thought of her as she
would appear, seated upon the dlVan
near the grandfather clock IN the
paflor of the department store. "A
beautiful woman, with every detail OF
dress calculated in step with ms
pride. She would be wearing that
blue outfit, he anticipated. the pIue
one sees in ice in certain nSht oI
in the sea-a strange color! Dlstlnc-
tive, though. and smart-that was lhe
word--smart. and clever OF heL 70
choose it. And she'd probably nave
ehout her neck that little affair he
had brought her from Paris the time
he went over with the bar committee
"a little hard on that last chap'
weren't YOU judge
The question swung him about as
he was about to go down the steps OF
the building and he looked into the
face of John Colson, his good trleno'
The Judge shook his shoulders as ne
mind came back to the matters VI
the courtroom, as if to be rid OF tlieni
so that his thoughts might remain
upon the more pleasant suo!ecl'
ssTheft isn't a matter OF amount
John" said Judge Merck. The CIR
c,lmstances back of the crime shoula
he inquired into. always. That leiioW
hadn't a shadow of excuse Tor s,eal-
ing. I'll admit. though, tnat 1 nav
difficulty in being fair TO thleses'
stealing is such senseiess' useless
.Except where there is desperate
need, of course. ,,o,,
Yes, certainly. l don Tleah SUI
p,lfering as that. Nnat l IeLeL -
tarinr nroDertv for gain or 10 satlsly
a fancy or whim. / can conceive OF /
Nothing TO extenuate it. SAID the |
3,,risf as the two walked on together;
swell. I can't either" RESPONDED
CoIson. >.oo,-
..of say nv duty is to the State, but |
that is the fact, and / deem 1t
holnden duty to punish thieves who /
steal when there is no need.
ssYou are right, of course, Coisoh
replied. "And / meant no criticism,
Regards to Mrs. Merck-she' wen'
trlist?"
perfectly, thank you, yes" and the
stern lines VaniSneO DSLoAS thC ANAo
ing smiles. I'm going TO meet her
now for lunch. Good-by."
Judge Merck left his friend and en-
tered the press of customers throng-
ing the aisles of the great store. he
proceeded slowly here, his way blocked
often by hurrying women, and ne
neared the end of the passageWay
with some relief Head down, he was
gently pushing his way to the rim OF
the press; soon he would be free OF 1t |
and able to go directly to where ms
wife would be waiting.
From the tail of his eye he saw |
woman's hand reach out to the ar |
ticles displayed on counter The mo- |
ton was so swift that it scarcely reg |
istered on his brain until after he |
had passed, but then he got picture |
of the act The hand was gloved-
in blue: the fingers had closed about |
a bottle of something, perfumery |
probably, and as swiftly returned. |
He whirled in his tracks at the cost
of dais balance, but he managed while
righting himself to retain an idea OF
the general location of the woman
who had stolen the bottle, as she
rapidly slipped away. His eyes fell
upon her back, and the familiar quail
fty of outline and color, as yet un-
identified, left him cold. The gown
was blue-the blue one sees in Ice In
q certain light or in the sea. He