Carmella Commands
“They haven’t proved he did. He pleaded not guilty.”
“Of course he did. My brave boy!”
“But,” said Carmella, “they’re going to keep him for trial, and they’ll lock him up unless somebody offers two hundred dollars to prove he won’t run away.”
“My boy run away! Never!”
“Maybe he won’t, Mrs. Pieri. But that’s the law. Now do you want to keep him out of jail for the next week, by putting up two hundred?”
“Yes, yes! But what do I do? Tell me, Carmella.”
Two policemen darted forward and the judge rapped for order as Carmella jumped to her feet and shouted:
“Say, Mr. Judge, can we bail him now?”
“Sit down!” commanded Judge Lawrence. “You are not a party to the case.”
“But Judge, I mean your Honor, I mean—gosh-all-jiminy, Judge! I’m the one that talks English for that guy’s mother. She wants to give bail. How do we do it? I mean—well, your Honor, this is the first time I was ever arrested—I mean was in court.”
Old-timers in the courtroom looked to see the Judge hold the girl for contempt of court. He was a stickler for judicial dignity. But instead they heard him say:
“Come here to the desk, young lady.”
“Who are you?’ he asked, when the dazed Car-
[227]
