fill THE WEST SHORE.
ny cam into requisition, and, with the pointing at him from all directions, for
manly assistance of tbis peacemaker, engaging in a drunken row that did not
soon cleared the room of the ruffian, concern him. Through expert cross ex
The victim was found to bo Josephus amination by the prosecuting attorney,
Sycamore, better known as "Old Syc." ho was several times inveigled into con
Many a night he slept in the old log tradicting some of his own statements,
cabin used as a jail by the constable of When "Old Syc" was called, he was
tho precinct He was a rather tall man, still under the influence of the debauch
wore a hat about three sizes too small, of the night before, and made a very
a canvas suit, and had a peculiar smile bad impression. After the testimony
on his face when invited to "take some- was all taken, the judge looked very
thing." He wns taken to Billy's house, grave. He was rather small of stature,
the blood washed from his face, and pre- knew no law, but had a wonderful
scnted with a new suit of substantial, amount of cunning when contemplating
but not costly, clothes. After a ram- his individual interests; and as he sat
bling soliloquy, in which revengeful ex- gazing at the prisoner, one eye seemed
prensions figured prominently, he dozed to be censuring him, while the other
( IT into a deep sleep. seemed imploring the heavens for mer-
Early next morning, Saturday, a war- cy. It would not have been unreasona
rantof arrest was served on Billy, but ble to accuse him of catering to the rough
as none of the men attacked by him had element, who had got worsted in the af
been seriously hurt, he was allowed free- fray, and at the. same time making an
dom on his own recognizanco until the effort to gain a reputation among tho
tho hour of trial, which was set for 10.00 law-abiding citizens, as being a terror to
o'clock tho same day. It was a beauti- criminals. This is the rule, not the ex
ful morning; the flowers sent their jer- ception, among petty politicians, and the
fume through tho gentle breeze, and tho judgo had never been accused of being
birds were twittering in the treetops. an exception. After a few moments, the
But a chango had come over Billy's painful silenco was broken, as His Hon
mind. He was uneasy. While know- or arose and began to address the jury,
ing that the act of tho night before was which was composed of men who had a
a jost one on his part, he couldn't help wonderful amount of confidence in the
but feel the stigma of being put under legal ability of the judge. I will not
arrest on a criminal charge. When tho give his language, but simply state that
hour for trial arrived, tho court room he informed the jury that he knew more
was filled, and tho prisoner imagined law than any of them, and that under
that as ho f aw tho men whispering to- the statutes of Idaho Territory, tho pria
gcther, they wero commenting unfavor- oner was guilty of an unwarranted and
ably on his portion. Becoming moro unprovoked assault with a deadly wca
cxciled as timo went on, he lost that pon, with intent to do great bodily harm,
self-control snd composuro that an inno- and that tho majesty of the law must bo
cent man was expected to maintain. Two maintained. Without leaving their scats,
jurymen were rejected by the court, for the jury rendered a verdict of guilty, as
having formed and expressed an unqual- instructed by the court. Tho judge
ified opinion as to the guilt or innocence again arose, and in a graver tone, ro
of the prisoner, which causM Billy to quested Billy to arise, which ho did, to
show additional signs of uneasiness. He listen to a long and tedious lecture on
imagine! that the Cnger of scorn was the disgrace of being convicted of a