the financier-第100部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ry。　　All　of　the　papers　in　the　case　were　put　in　his　care　to　be　delivered　to　the　warden。

〃I　suppose　you　know；〃　confided　Sheriff　Jaspers　to　Steger；　〃that　Stener　is　here。　　He　ain't　got　no　money　now；　but　I　gave　him　a　private　room　just　the　same。　　I　didn't　want　to　put　a　man　like　him　in　no　cell。〃　　Sheriff　Jaspers　sympathized　with　Stener。

〃That's　right。　　I'm　glad　to　hear　that；〃　replied　Steger；　smiling　to　himself。

〃I　didn't　suppose　from　what　I've　heard　that　Mr。　Cowperwood　would　want　to　meet　Stener　here；　so　I've　kept　'em　apart。　　George　just　left　a　minute　ago　with　another　deputy。〃

〃That's　good。　　That's　the　way　it　ought　to　be；〃　replied　Steger。　He　was　glad　for　Cowperwood's　sake　that　the　sheriff　had　so　much　tact。　　Evidently　George　and　the　sheriff　were　getting　along　in　a　very　friendly　way；　for　all　the　former's　bitter　troubles　and　lack　of　means。

The　Cowperwood　party　walked；　the　distance　not　being　great；　and　as　they　did　so　they　talked　of　rather　simple　things　to　avoid　the　more　serious。

〃Things　aren't　going　to　be　so　bad；〃　Edward　said　to　his　father。　〃Steger　says　the　Governor　is　sure　to　pardon　Stener　in　a　year　or　less；　and　if　he　does　he's　bound　to　let　Frank　out　too。〃

Cowperwood；　the　elder；　had　heard　this　over　and　over；　but　he　was　never　tired　of　hearing　it。　　It　was　like　some　simple　croon　with　which　babies　are　hushed　to　sleep。　　The　snow　on　the　ground；　which　was　enduring　remarkably　well　for　this　time　of　year；　the　fineness　of　the　day；　which　had　started　out　to　be　clear　and　bright；　the　hope　that　the　courtroom　might　not　be　full；　all　held　the　attention　of　the　father　and　his　two　sons。　　Cowperwood；　senior；　even　commented　on　some　sparrows　fighting　over　a　piece　of　bread；　marveling　how　well　they　did　in　winter；　solely　to　ease　his　mind。　　Cowperwood；　walking　on　ahead　with　Steger　and　Zanders；　talked　of　approaching　court　proceedings　in　connection　with　his　business　and　what　ought　to　be　done。

When　they　reached　the　court　the　same　little　pen　in　which　Cowperwood　had　awaited　the　verdict　of　his　jury　several　months　before　was　waiting　to　receive　him。

Cowperwood；　senior；　and　his　other　sons　sought　places　in　the　courtroom　proper。　　Eddie　Zanders　remained　with　his　charge。　　Stener　and　a　deputy　by　the　name　of　Wilkerson　were　in　the　room；　but　he　and　Cowperwood　pretended　now　not　to　see　each　other。　　Frank　had　no　objection　to　talking　to　his　former　associate；　but　he　could　see　that　Stener　was　diffident　and　ashamed。　　So　he　let　the　situation　pass　without　look　or　word　of　any　kind。　　After　some　three…quarters　of　an　hour　of　dreary　waiting　the　door　leading　into　the　courtroom　proper　opened　and　a　bailiff　stepped　in。

〃All　prisoners　up　for　sentence；〃　he　called。

There　were　six；　all　told；　including　Cowperwood　and　Stener。　　Two　of　them　were　confederate　housebreakers　who　had　been　caught　red…handed　at　their　midnight　task。

Another　prisoner　was　no　more　and　no　less　than　a　plain　horse…thief；　a　young　man　of　twenty…six；　who　had　been　convicted　by　a　jury　of　stealing　a　grocer's　horse　and　selling　it。　　The　last　man　was　a　negro；　a　tall；　shambling；　illiterate；　nebulous…minded　black；　who　had　walked　off　with　an　apparently　discarded　section　of　lead　pipe　which　he　had　found　in　a　lumber…yard。　　His　idea　was　to　sell　or　trade　it　for　a　drink。　　He　really　did　not　belong　in　this　court　at　all；　but；　having　been　caught　by　an　undersized　American　watchman　charged　with　the　care　of　the　property；　and　having　at　first　refused　to　plead　guilty；　not　quite　understanding　what　was　to　be　done　with　him；　he　had　been　perforce　bound　over　to　this　court　for　trial。　Afterward　he　had　changed　his　mind　and　admitted　his　guilt；　so　he　now　had　to　come　before　Judge　Payderson　for　sentence　or　dismissal。　The　lower　court　before　which　he　had　originally　been　brought　had　lost　jurisdiction　by　binding　him　over　to　to　higher　court　for　trial。　Eddie　Zanders；　in　his　self…appointed　position　as　guide　and　mentor　to　Cowperwood；　had　confided　nearly　all　of　this　data　to　him　as　he　stood　waiting。

The　courtroom　was　crowded。　　It　was　very　humiliating　to　Cowperwood　to　have　to　file　in　this　way　along　the　side　aisle　with　these　others；　followed　by　Stener；　well　dressed　but　sickly　looking　and　disconsolate。

The　negro；　Charles　Ackerman；　was　the　first　on　the　list。

〃How　is　it　this　man　comes　before　me？〃　asked　Payderson；　peevishly；　when　he　noted　the　value　of　the　property　Ackerman　was　supposed　to　have　stolen。

〃Your　honor；〃　the　assistant　district　attorney　explained；　promptly；　〃this　man　was　before　a　lower　court　and　refused；　because　he　was　drunk；　or　something；　to　plead　guilty。　　The　lower　court；　because　the　complainant　would　not　forego　the　charge；　was　compelled　to　bind　him　over　to　this　court　for　trial。　　Since　then　he　has　changed　his　mind　and　has　admitted　his　guilt　to　the　district　attorney。　　He　would　not　be　brought　before　you　except　we　have　no　alternative。　He　has　to　be　brought　here　now　in　order　to　clear　the　calendar。〃

Judge　Payderson　stared　quizzically　at　the　negro；　who；　obviously　not　very　much　disturbed　by　this　examination；　was　leaning　comfortably　on　the　gate　or　bar　before　which　the　average　criminal　stood　erect　and　terrified。　　He　had　been　before　police…court　magistrates　before　on　one　charge　and　anotherdrunkenness；　disorderly　conduct；　and　the　likebut　his　whole　attitude　was　one　of　shambling；　lackadaisical；　amusing　innocence。

〃Well；　Ackerman；〃　inquired　his　honor；　severely；　〃did　you　or　did　you　not　steal　this　piece　of　lead　pipe　as　charged　herefour　dollars　and　eighty　cents'　worth？〃

〃Yassah；　I　did；〃　he　began。　　〃I　tell　you　how　it　was；　jedge。　　I　was　a…comin'　along　past　dat　lumber…yard　one　Saturday　afternoon；　and　I　hadn't　been　wuckin'；　an'　I　saw　dat　piece　o'　pipe　thoo　de　fence；　lyin'　inside；　and　I　jes'　reached　thoo　with　a　piece　o'　boad　I　found　dey　and　pulled　it　over　to　me　an'　tuck　it。　　An'　aftahwahd　dis　Mistah　Watchman　man〃he　waved　his　hand　oratorically　toward　the　witness…chair；　where；　in　case　the　judge　might　wish　to　ask　him　some　questions；　the　complainant　had　taken　his　stand〃come　around　tuh　where　I　live　an'　accused　me　of　done　takin'　it。〃

〃But　you　did　take　it；　didn't　you？〃

〃Yassah；　I　done　tuck　it。〃

〃What　did　you　do　with　it？〃

〃I　traded　it　foh　twenty…five　cents。〃

〃You　mean　you　sold　it；〃　corrected　his　honor。

〃Yassah；　I　done　sold　it。〃

〃Well；　don't　you　know　it's　wrong　to　do　anything　like　that？　Didn't　you　know　when　you　reached　through　that　fence　and　pulled　that　pipe　over　to　you　that　you　were　stealing？　Didn't　you？〃

〃Yassah；　I　knowed　it　was　wrong；〃　replied　Ackerman；　sheepishly。　〃I　didn'　think　'twuz　stealin'　like　zackly；　but　I　done　knowed　it　was　wrong。　　I　done　knowed　I　oughtn'　take　it；　I　guess。〃

〃Of　course　you　did。　　Of　course　you　did。　　That's　just　it。　　You　knew　you　were　stealing；　and　still　you　took　it。　　Has　the　man　to　whom　this　negro　sold　the　lead　pipe　been　apprehended　yet？〃　the　judge　inquired　sharply　of　the　district　attorney。　　〃He　should　be；　for　he's　more　guilty　than　this　negro；　a　receiver　of　stolen　goods。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　replied　the　assistant。　　〃His　case　is　before　Judge　Yawger。〃

〃Quite　right。　　It　should　be；〃　replied　Payderson；　severely。　　〃This　matter　of　receiving　stolen　property　is　one　of　the　worst　offenses；　in　my　judgment。〃

He　then　turned　his　attention　to　Ackerman　again。　　〃Now；　look　here；　Ackerman；〃　he　exclaimed；　irritated　at　having　to　bother　with　such　a　pretty　case；　〃I　want　to　say　something　to　you；　and　I　want　you　to　pay　strict　attention　to　me。　　Straighten　up；　there！　Don't　lean　on　that　gate！　You　are　in　the　presence　of　the　law　now。〃　　Ackerman　had　sprawled　himself　comfortably　down　on　his　elbows　as　he　would　have　if　he　had　been　leaning　over　a　back…fence　gate　talking　to　some　one；　but　he　immediately　drew　himself　straight；　still　grinning　foolishly　and　apologetically；　when　he　heard　this。　　〃You　are　not　so　dull　but　that　you　can　understand　what　I　am　going　to　say　to　you。　　The　offense　you　have　committedstealing　a　piece　of　lead　pipeis　a　crime。　　Do　you　hear　me？　A　criminal　offenseone　that　I　could　punish　you　very　severely　for。　　I　could　send　you　to　the　penitentiary　for　one　year　if　I　chosethe　law　says　I　mayone　year　at　hard　labor　for　stealing　a　piece　of　lead　pipe。　　Now；　if　you　have　any　sense　you　will　pay　strict　attention　to　what　I　am　going　to　tell　you。　　I　am　not　going　to　send　you　to　the　penitentiary　right　now。　　I'm　going　to　wait　a　little　while。　　I　am　going　to　sentence　you　to　one　year　in　the　penitentiaryone　year。　　Do　you　understand？〃　Ackerman　blanched　a　little　and　licked　his　lips　nervously。　　〃And　then　I　am　going　to　suspend　that　sentencehold　it　over　your　head；　so　that　if　you　are　ever　caught　taking　anything　else　you　will　be　punished　for　this　offense　and　the　next　one　also　at　one　and　the　same　time。　　Do　you　understand　that？　Do　you　know　what　I　mean？　Tell　me。　　Do　you？〃

〃Yessah！　I　does；　sir；〃　replied　the　negro。　　〃You'se　gwine　to　let　me　go　nowtha's　it。〃

The　audience　grinned；　and　his　honor　made　a　wry　face　to　prevent　his　own　grim　grin。

〃I'm　going　to　let　you　go　only　so　long　as　you　don't　steal　anything　else；〃　he　thundered。　　〃The　moment　you　steal　anything　else；　back　you　come　to　this　court；　and　then　you　go　to　the　penitentiary　for　a　year　and　whatever　more　time　you　deserve。　　Do　you　understand　that？　Now；　I　want　you　to　walk　straight　out　of　this　court　and　behave　yourself。　　Don't　ever　steal　anything。　　Get　something　to　do！　Don't　steal；　do　you　hear？　Don't　touch　anything　that　does