THE BOYS. Thats so. Of course he has. Insulting the court!
Challenge be jiggered! Gag him.
NESTOR [a juryman with a long white beard, drunk, the oldest man
present] Besides, Sheriff, I go so far as to say that the man
that is not prejudiced against a horse-thief is not fit to sit on
a jury in this town.
THE BOYS. Right. Bully for you, Nestor! Thats the straight truth.
Of course he aint. Hear, hear!
THE SHERIFF. That is no doubt true, old man. Still, you must get
as unprejudiced as you can. The critter has a right to his
chance, such as he is. So now go right ahead. If the prisoner
don't like this jury, he should have stole a horse in another
town; for this is all the jury he'll get here.
THE FOREMAN. Thats so, Blanco Posnet.
THE SHERIFF [to Blanco] Dont you be uneasy. You will get justice
here. It may be rough justice; but it is justice.
BLANCO. What is justice?
THE SHERIFF. Hanging horse-thieves is justice; so now you know.
Now then: weve wasted enough time. Hustle with your witness
there, will you?
BLANCO [indignantly bringing down his fist on the bar] Swear the
jury. A rotten Sheriff you are not to know that the jury's got to
be sworn.
THE FOREMAN [galled] Be swore for you! Not likely. What do you
say, old son?
NESTOR [deliberately and solemnly] I say: GUILTY!!!
THE BOYS [tumultuously rushing at Blanco] Thats it. Guilty,
guilty. Take him out and hang him. He's found guilty. Fetch a
rope. Up with him.
Pages:
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125