CLARENCE. 55

an aggrieved party, it is a matte».- f< r the
F ederal courts t0 prosecute, and that the
only officer we can recognize is the United
States Marshal for the district. lVhen I
add that the marshal, Colonel Cracken-
thorpe, is one of my oldest friends, and an
active sympathizer with the South in the
present struggle, you will understand that
any action from him in this matter is ex-
ceedingly improbable. ”

The general murmur of laughter, relief,
and approval was broken by the quiet voice
of Judge Beeswinger.

“Let me see your warrant, Mr. Deputy
Sheriff.”

The officer approached him with a slightly
perplexed and constrained air, and exhibited
the paper. Judge Beeswinger handed it
back to him. “Colonel Star-bottle is quite
right i11 his contention," he sai<l quietly;
“the only officer that this assembly can rec-
ognize is the United States Marshal or his
legal deputy. But Colonel Star-bottle is
wron g in his supposition that Colonel Crack-
enthorpe still retains the functions of that
office. He was removed by the President of
the United States, and his successor vras ap-
pointed and sworn in by the Federal judge