. McClure's magazine. aimlessly, and his lips mut-tered. Paralysis swept near him at thatinstant. Am—I—imprisoned because I amfriendless and poor? Is this your law? The judge shrugged his shoulders, butmany in the court-room felt uncomforta-ble. Then, spoke Isaac Masters, rising tohis greatest height, and uplifting his handas if to call Gopl to witness, if this is law—damn your law! It was his first andlast oath. Every man in the room startedto his feet at the utterance of that supremelegal blasphemy. But the judge was si-lent. What sentence might he not inflictfor such contempt of court? What
. McClure's magazine. aimlessly, and his lips mut-tered. Paralysis swept near him at thatinstant. Am—I—imprisoned because I amfriendless and poor? Is this your law? The judge shrugged his shoulders, butmany in the court-room felt uncomforta-ble. Then, spoke Isaac Masters, rising tohis greatest height, and uplifting his handas if to call Gopl to witness, if this is law—damn your law! It was his first andlast oath. Every man in the room startedto his feet at the utterance of that supremelegal blasphemy. But the judge was si-lent. What sentence might he not inflictfor such contempt of court? What sen-tence could he? The witness had nomoney, wherewith to be fined, and he wasgoing to prison at any rate. The judgewas great enough to put himself in Isaacsplace. He stroked his beard medita-tively. Remove the witness, he said. Thiswas sentence enough. Although two offi-cers advanced cautiously, as if preparedfor a tussle, a babe might have led thegiant unto the confines of Hades by the THE SILENT WITNESS. 183. OH, MY GOD! HE SOBBED. MY GOD ! MY GOD ! pressure of its little finger. For Isaacwept. There were two other witnesses in thewhite-washed cell to which Isaac was as-signed. It was on the south side, andlarge, and sunny, and often the door wasleft unlocked; but the cell looked out intoa crumbling grave-yard. One of these wit-nesses was a boy of about eighteen, paleto the suggestion of a mortal disease. Itdid not take Isaac long to find out thatthis complexion did not indicate consump-tion, but was only prison pallor. Theother prisoner was less pathetic as to color,but he was listless and discouraged. Theonly amusement of these men consisted inchewing tobacco in enormous quantities,playing surreptitious games of high-low-jack, in reading the daily paper, a singlemagazine, and waiting for the sun to enterthe barred window, and watching it in theafternoon as it slipped away. These twomen tried to cheer the new comer in arude, hearty way; but when the countrylad learne
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidmccluresmaga, bookyear1893
