The Other Fellow

fume into the gloom of a coal mine choked with noxious vapors-out of a morning, if you will, all joy and gladness and the music of many birds; a morning when the wide, wh

alight, their bodies lost in the shadows; the ominous sounds of falling rock thundering through the blackness; and again, when all is still, the slow drop, drop of th

changed all the love and gladness, all the wit and la

was through a cold, crypt-like passage running under heavy brick arches. At its end hung a door blocked up with slouch

far down as the rail outside the bench. The air was sickening, loathsome, almost unbreathable. The only light, except the dull gray light of th

with torn papers, and the tables were heaped with bundles of

black shadow without form or outline. All over this huge black shadow were spattered specks of white.

his eyes fastened on the prisoner. The flare of the gas jet fell on his stern, i

reach of the doomed man, were the sheriffs-rough-looking men, with silver shields on their breasts. They

and strong. The forehead was low, the lips heavy, the jaw firm. The brown-black face showed no cruelt

l life, perhaps. His dress was ragged and dingy, patched trousers, and shabby shoes, and a worn flannel shirt open at the throat

h, the voice of the Judge rose, filling every part of the r

, and may God have

is voice that I remembered. Surely this could not be the same man I had met at the table but an hour before, w

ent his eyes rested on the Judge; then they moved to the clerks, sitting silent and motionles

ilence met hi

and held out his hands helplessly; the officer leaned forward, and adjusted the h

wrists, wheeled about and faced the crowd. The constables raised their staffs, formed a guard, and forc

ible shiver of pent-up sighs, low whispe

m opening into his private quarters. His sunny smile had returned, alt

ut I couldn't find you in the crowd. Come in. Let me present you to the district attorney and to the young lawyer whom I appointed to

t I saw the man before they led him away, and I must say he didn't look much like a criminal. Tell me something about the murder," a

his shoulders. "He is the only one about here who seems to know anything about

ion, but whether because of his chagrin at losing the case

something about it." There was a certain elation in his manner, as he spoke, that surprised me-quite as if

I forget what you made them say and how you got some of them tangled up. That negro is as innocent of tha

d the charm of his voice. He had picked up a reed pipe when he entered the room, and had filled it with tobacco,

e fair. As far as I could see, the witnesses told a straight story, and upon their evidence the jury brought in the verdict. I think, too, my charge was just. There was"-here the Judge puffed away vigorously-"there was

unsel and laughed. Then he added, as an expression of ill-c

done your duty well, and lost-that's all there is to it. But I'll tell you one thing for your information,"-and his voice assumed a serious tone,-"and one which you did not notice in this trial, and which you would have done had you known the ways of thes

young man. "I tried to get something fr

and one of the worst it has given us-a shiftless tramp that preys on society." His remarks were evidently intended for me, for the Judge was not listening, nor was the young lawyer. "Most of this cla

pen around here," remarked the young ma

another thing. I had a second talk with Crouch only this afternoon after the verdict"-and he turned to me-"while the Judge was lunching with you, sir, and I begged him, now that it w

h had no friends, except this young sprig of the law, who seemed as much chagrined over the loss of his case as anything else. And yet, I confess, I did not let my

young man's thrust. Then he answered hi

know. You can ask for a new

during the discussion he had been engaged in twisting the end of the straw i

his feet. "If Sam Crouch had a soul as white as snow, it wouldn't help him with these juries

ter him a moment an

ir hearts are all right. I haven't a doubt but that Crouc