Evening star., 1942-07-08
CHAPTER X.


BY II o'clock the snow was falling
heavily in big, soft puffs and the
sky was not visible at all. People
were scurrying through the falling
snow, and snow piled up in the door,
ways and it piled up on the statue
in the public square and on the
rails from the mine to the harbor.
Snow piled up and the little cart
wheels skidded as they were pushed
along.
And over the town there hung
blackness that was deeper than the
cloud, and over the town there hung
a sullenness and a dry, growing
hatred. The people did not stand in
the streets long, but they entered
the doors and the doors closed and
there seemed to be eyes looking
from behind the curtains, and when
the military went through the street
or when the patrol walked down the
main street, the eyes were on the
patrol, cold and sullen. And in the
shops people came to buy little
things for lunch and they asked for
the goods and got it and paid for it
and exchanged no good-day with
the seller.
In the little palace drawing room
the lights were on and the lights
shone on the falling snow outside
the window. The court was in ses-
sion.
Lanser sat at the head of the
table with Hunter on his right, then
Tonder, and, at the lower end, Capt.
Loft with a little pile of papers in
front of him. On the opposite side,
Mayor Orden sat on the colonel's
left and Prackle was next to him
Prackle, who scribbled on his pad
ST paper.
Beside the table two guards stood
with bayonets fixed, with helmets on
their heads, and they were little
wooden images. Between them was
Alex Morden, a big young man with
a wide, low forehead, with deep-set
eyes and a long, sharp nose. His
chin was firm and his mouth sensual
and wide. He was wide of shoulder,
narrow of hip, and in front of him
his manacled hands clasped and
unclasped. He was dressed in black
trousers. a blue skirt open at the
neck, and a dark coat shiny from
wear.
The Charge Is Read.
Capt Loft read from the paper in
front of him, when ordered back
to work, he refused to 60 and when
the order was repeated, the prisoner
attacked Capt. Loft with the pick-ax
he carried. Capt. Bentick inter-
posed his body"
Mayor Orden coughed and, when
Loft stopped reading, said, sit
down, Alex. One of you guards get
him a chair" The guard turned
and pulled up chair unquestion-
ingly.
Loft said, "It is customary for the
prisoner to stand"
Let him sit down." Orden said.
Only we will know. You can report
that he stood"
1T is not customary to falsify
reports" said Loft.
"Sit down, Alex" Orden repeated.
And the big young man sat down
and his manacled hands were rest
less in his lap.
Loft began, This is contrary to
all"
The colonel said, Let him be
seated"
Capt. Loft cleared his throat.
"'Capt. Bentick interposed his body
and received blow on the head
which crushed his skull A medical
report is appended. Do you wish
me to read it?"
mo need" said Lanser. Make
1t as quick as you can"
These facts have been witnessed
by several of our soldiers, whose
statements are attached. This mill
tary court finds that the prisoner is
guilty of murder and recommends
a death sentence Do you wish me
to read the statements of the SOL
diers?"
Lanser sighed. NO He turned
to Alex. You don't deny that you
killed the captain. do you?'
Alex smiled sadly. "I hit him,
he said. Il don't know that l killed
him"
Good Work, Alex"
Orden said, Good work. AleXi'
And the two looked at each other
as friends.
Loft said. do you mean to imply
that he was killed by some one
else?"
Il don't know" said Alex. 81 only
hit him and then somebody hit me +"
Col. Lanser said, do you want
to offer any explanation? I can't
think of anything that will change
the sentence, but We will listen"
Loft said, II respectfully submit
that the colonel should not have