Beadle's Dime Library No. 51: Red Rob, The Boy Road-Agent — page 37: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

i Red Rob, The Boy Road-Agent. 37 had been appointed as prosecuting attorney. A clump o1 pinons was selected as the most favorable place for the ‘court to sit.” The jury occupied a fallen log, while the judge was indulged in the luxury of a chair, and a table for a desk, furnished by the settlers of Hidden Home. Red Rob occupied a seat in front of the judge, and when he was called upon to speak, he rose promptly anid spoke in a clear, unmoved tone, while his handsome face g'owed with a haif-mischievous smite. The “ prosecuting attorney” was a young man who em- braced this opportunity to display his legal knowledge, as it was, in fact, the very first case in which he had been called wpon to render assistance alone, and earn a fee that was not to be divided with a senior partner. “Red Rob,” said the judge, when general order had been restored, ‘‘ what is your right name?” ‘* Robert B. Conrad,” replied the youth, that mysterious smile playing about his lips. ** Well, Robert B. Conrad, are you ready for trial?” ques- tioned the judge, producing a large meerschaum pipe and silver tobacco-box. ‘What difference would it make if I were not?” replied the young outlaw. ‘It is the duty incumbent upon the court to allow the prisoner time for defense. If you desire witnesses, time will be granted you to procure them. If you want the as- sistance of an attorney, you will be allowed time, also, to obtain one.” ‘‘T thank the court for this kind information,” said the young road-agent, ‘‘ but I have all the witnesses I care for; and, as to an attorney, I think so little of them that | shall forego the needed nuisance, and conduct my own side of this scrape.” “Then let the witnesses for the State be called,” said Thomas Jefferson Overbaron, the ‘‘ State’s attorney,” who felt sensibly hit by the prisoner’s remarks, The sheriff arose and called the names: Christopher Wal- broke, Don Manuel Raviso and Juan Jose "Vaca. The three men came forward as their names were called. Albert St. Kenelm was not a little surprised when his eyes fell upon the hard, cruel face of Christopher Walbroke. He recognized it as the face of the gambler who had taken such a conspicuous part in the fight at tue Conejos saloon, on that memorable night, and who then answerd to the name of Manuel Chicaloo, The major knew that this man’s tes\imony would be made as strong as the villainous character of a re- vengeful spirit could make it, against the youth who had so often proven a terror to the gamblers and drunkards of Conejos. Don Manuel Raviso was a wealthy Mexican gentleman who had suffered at the hauds of Red Rob’s gang. Juan Jose Vaca was the overseer of a large ranch north of Santa Fe which had also been visited by the outlaws. The three were sworn. Don Raviso took the stand. ‘Don Manuel Raviso,” said Overbaron, with that free, important air so peculiar to the legal profession, yet which all could see was assumed, ‘‘ will you please state to the jury your occupation, the piace of your residence, and whether you do, or do not, recognize the prisoner at the bar?” ‘¢T own and operate a large ranch about forty miles south of Conejos,” began the witness, ‘‘and I recognize the pris- oner at the bar as Red Rob,” Overbaron gave Red Rob a glance which seemed to say, ‘What do you think of attorneys now?” as though Raviso’s statement had been made solely upon the young lawyer’s in- stigation. Then he ran his eyes over the crowd, permitting them to rest for a moment upon the pretty, anxious faces of Octavia St. Kenelm and Maggie Boswell, of whose eyes he believed he had become an object of adiniration. “ Senor Raviso,” he said, running his fingers, through be hair, then glancing at his hand with a close, intense look, though he considered the single brown hair that had pat dragged from his head worth more than the soul of the boy outlaw, ‘‘ state to the court,” he. continued, after a moment’s hesitation, ‘under what circumstance you heretofore met the prisoner.” “ Under circumstances over which I had no control,” re- plied the witness, and an outburst of laughter followed the curt. response. Even the judge was compelled to conceal his face in clouds of tobacco-smoke in order to maintain ig sober dignity of the court. Overberap never ‘‘ cracked ” smile. ‘‘ About one month ago,” Raviso continued, “ ay hacienda was visited by a band of outlaws. They broke into my casa and confronted me in my library. The leader drew a revo.yer, and in the name of Red Rob ata ndodl my money avd jewels. I gave him my watch, some money, and a large amount of silver plate. Then they left.” ‘* That’s all, Don Raviso—all that’s necessary, unless the robber wisies to cross-examine,” said the attorney, venturing to elevate his heels upon the judge’s stand, ‘“] would like to ask the witness,” said Red Rob, ‘‘ whether it was in the nigtt or daytime when he was at tacked and robbed ?” “{ should think you knew yourself; however, it was in the night,” replied Raviso—‘‘ on the night of the twentieth day of May last,” ‘* At what hour in the night?” asked the prisoner. ‘tT object, your honor!” cried Overbaron, springing to his feet. ‘“ State your objections,” said the judge, his half-closed eyes following the little clouds of smoke drifting upward among the pinon boughs. ‘*The question is not in the order of a direct cross exam- ination,” said Overbaron; ‘‘ moreover, it is. immaterial to us whether it was night’or day, or at what hour, the witness was. robbed.” “Your honor,” said Red Rob, rising to his feet, ‘if it is immaterial to this court where and at what hour the witness was robbed, I would like to know what the learned gentle- man is ranting about, But, your honor, I put the question that I may be enabled to prove that I was not at the ra: ch at the time the witness refers to.” The court sustained the question, and Raviso answered: ‘Tt was precisely eleven o’clock, for when I handed the robber my watch—an open face—lI glanced at it and noted the time exactly.” ‘‘T am done with the witness,” said Red Rob. ‘Juan Jose Vaca will take the stand,” said the prosecu- ting attorney. This witness was put upon the stand and testified that he was the overseer of a large ranch north of Santa Fe, and that, about five weeks previous, a band of robbers had en- tered the premises and stolen a nunuber ol Lorecs and valu. ables. The leader of that gang he recognized in the prisoner at the bar, although it was in the night when the attack was made, The cross-examination was confined to a siugle question, which elicited nothing favorable to the prisoner. Christopher Walbroke was next called “Mr. Walbroke,” said Overbaron, contemplating his’ ele- vated feet with a look of admiration, ‘‘ where do you live?— what do you do for a livelihood? -and do you, or do you not, recognize the prisoner before you?” **]T reside at Conejos,” replied the witness, ‘‘ and since Missouri Moll got hurt i’ve been driviu’ stuge in his place till I started on this tramp. Yes, sir!” and the witness began to wax wroth, ‘‘I recognize that chap as Red Rob, the very villain that—" ‘‘ Sir!” interrupted the court, savagely, “‘ you niust remem- ber that you are upon oatli, and that no such contempt of court will be tolerated. The use of further profanity will receive condemnation—I won't have it,” and the judge sunk back ‘into his seat, and calmly resumed his smohing. A brief silence ensued, but the stage-driver, having recov- ered from his unexpected reprimand, resumed his evidence, ‘*'Wal, I know that’s Red Rob—the very feller that’s robbed the Santa Fe coach three times this summer, But about a month ago a passel of us Conejos boys were im the Swill-Pail saloon there, havin’ a good, quiet time, when that very boy came in, dressed up in citizen’s clothes, ‘and lookin’ jist as green as grass. Mall, when ole Dakota Dan and another feller took’ his part, and a free fight ensued. While the fight war goin’ on, he pulled a whistle outen his pocket, and then he put it to his lips and blowed a screecher. . The next minute his hull gang of robbers rode right into that saloon and began to Shoot and bang right and left into the crowd.” Walbroke stopped to take. breath, when the attotnéy em- braced. the moment to make an ass of himself by putting « question he regretted the next moment. ‘** What time was the attack made?” | “‘Jist about midnight.” * Was anybody killed?” * Three men were killed dead.” ‘Did the robbers steal or destroy anything?” “No, they got too drunk to steal anything but licker, 4nd then they soon cut for their holes in the mountains. If they hadn’t, we’d ’a’ give them goss, we would.” ds He got into a fuss with big Missouri — Eomicbooks G (0)