"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 252 - Judge Lawless" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

sufficiently to watch proceedings.
For the first time, Dave noticed that the judge was playing further
travesty with justice by the garb he wore. His robe, an imitation of the sort
worn in court, was merely an inverted burlap bag, a hole cut in the bottom for
his head, and with slashes down the sides so that it hung loosely from his
shoulders.
Judge Lawless had a gift for farce, enough so to have brought a laugh
from
Dave, if a human life had not been involved.
For Fleech, the victim, had suddenly turned very human - too human, for
Dave to still remain obdurate about the fellow's case.
Fleech's face was lifted; his moans had turned to pleas. Half up from his
knees, he was stretching his hands from the bloody angle, beseeching Lawless
to
spare his life. If Fleech had just been whimpering at the gunners who flanked
him, Dave's better nature might not have sprung to the doomed man's cause. But
Fleech was addressing Judge Lawless in person, and the pitiful tones made
sense.
He'd been forced to treachery, Fleech claimed. The proof was plain, if
only the judge would consider it!
"I didn't give the cops the list," argued Fleech. "They don't know who
belongs -"
"Of course they don't," interrupted Lawless. "If you'd given any names,
they wouldn't have waited for the mass betrayal. They would have taken a few
prisoners beforehand, to corroborate your testimony. You knew, Fleech, what
that would mean. Word would have reached me, and I would have guessed your
treachery!"
"No, no!" pleaded Fleech. "I stalled the coppers, honest I did! They
aren't due for another hour, and I knew the meeting would be all over by that
time. I was going to tell you all about it afterward, judge - honest!"
"Honesty has no status with this court," mocked Judge Lawless. "Nor has
any evidence in behalf of the accused. All that you have stated, Fleech, is
off
the record. Your case is closed-forever!"


HARD on his heel, Judge Lawless swung about. He was turning his back on
Fleech not through any qualms at seeing the fellow die, but to prove his total
disregard for the fellow's life. One hand raised, Judge Lawless was about to
fling it sideward as a signal for the firing squad to blast Fleech into
oblivion.
Ready to risk his life for any man whose cause would not be heard, Dave
was actually poised for a lunge upon the burlap-robed judge - when something
stayed his move -
From somewhere came a laugh so outlandish, that even the taunting echoes
of its challenge seemed more formidable than the rasped utterances of Judge
Lawless. A laugh that could well have come from some other sphere of space, so
ghostly was its arrival. It left men staring blankly, that weird mirth, for
its
author was invisible!