Under orders, the story of a young reporter . in points of the casein a few brief and clearly worded sentences. Then 342 UNDER ORDERS. he informed tlie juiy that they might retire andconsider their verdict. Without leaving their seats the twelve jurymen,who had watched the case with a deep interest,whispered together for a moment. Then the fore-man rose and said: May it please the Court, we do not find it nec-essary to retire, as our minds are already fullymade up, and we are unanimously agreed as to theverdict. A breathless silence reigned over the felt as though his very hea
Under orders, the story of a young reporter . in points of the casein a few brief and clearly worded sentences. Then 342 UNDER ORDERS. he informed tlie juiy that they might retire andconsider their verdict. Without leaving their seats the twelve jurymen,who had watched the case with a deep interest,whispered together for a moment. Then the fore-man rose and said: May it please the Court, we do not find it nec-essary to retire, as our minds are already fullymade up, and we are unanimously agreed as to theverdict. A breathless silence reigned over the felt as though his very heart had ceased itsbeating, while Ben Watkins face assumed a deathlypallor. Yeiy well, Mr. Foreman, replied the judge, the Court awaits your verdict. It is, ^Not guilty, said the foreman, speakingin a loud, clear voice. At these words the young reporters overstrainednerves gave way, and burying his face in his armson the table before him, he gave one great gaspingsob of joy. The next instant Billings grasped his hand, cryingout as he shook it:. o <; o ^ 5 TRIUMPHANTLY ACQUITTED. 343 It s all right, old man. Your space has beenmeasured full bill is allowed. Silence ! roared the sheriff; ^ silence in court! But for the next minute or two he might as wellhave commanded the wind to keep silence. Thespectators could nt help cheering, and as many ofthem as could get near him just had to shake handswith Myles Manning. As soon as a little quiet was restored and hecould make himself heard the judge ordered thesheriff to arrest Ben Watkins on the charge of per-jury. That officer attempted to obey the order, butit was too late; Ben had disappeared. Taking ad-vantage of the momentary confusion that followedthe verdict he had slipped from the minutes later he was on board a fast trainwestward bound; nor from that day to this has anything been heard from him directly. He is supposedto be in one of the new mining regions of the farWest, but as the railroad company hav
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