He told it from the
beginning, and his adventure with the two beats in the Common made
the audience laugh again. Even then, Lemuel could not see the fun of
it; he stopped, and the stout ushers in blue flannel sacks commanded
silence. Then Lemuel related how he had twice seen one of the beats
since that time, but he was ashamed to say how he had let him escape
out of that very room half an hour before. He told how he had found
the beat in the crowd before the saloon, and how he was chasing him
up the street when he heard the young lady hollo out, "There they go
now!" and then the officer arrested him.
The judge sat a moment in thought; then said quietly, "The charge is
dismissed;" and before Lemuel well knew what it meant, a gate was
opened at the stand, and he was invited to pass out. He was free.
The officer who had arrested him shook his hand in congratulation
and excuse, and the lawyers and the other policemen gave him a
friendly glance. The loafers and beats of the audience did not seem
to notice him. They were already intent upon a case of coloured
assault and battery which had been called, and which opened with the
promise of uncommon richness, both of the parties being women.
Lemuel saw that girl who had accused him passing down the aisle on
the other side of the room. She was with another girl, who looked
older.
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