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Chapter 23
Duboseinherwheelchair—"Stopthatrapping,JohnTaylor,Iwanttoaskthismansomething."Perhapsourforefatherswerewise.
Atticuswassaying,"Withpeoplelikeus—that’sourshareofthebill.Wegenerallygetthejurieswedeserve.OurstoutMaycombcitizensaren’tinterested,inthefirstplace.Inthesecondplace,they’reafraid.Then,they’re—"
"Afraid,why?"askedJem.
"Well,whatif—say,Mr.LinkDeashadtodecidetheamountofdamagestoaward,say,MissMaudie,whenMissRachelranoverherwithacar.Linkwouldn’tlikethethoughtoflosingeitherlady’sbusinessathisstore,wouldhe?SohetellsJudgeTaylorthathecan’tserveonthejurybecausehedoesn’thaveanybodytokeepstoreforhimwhilehe’sgone.SoJudgeTaylorexcuseshim.Sometimesheexcuseshimwrathfully."
"What’dmakehimthinkeitheroneof‘em’dstoptradingwithhim?"Iasked.
Jemsaid,"MissRachelwould,MissMaudiewouldn’t.Butajury’svote’ssecret,Atticus."
Ourfatherchuckled."You’vemanymoremilestogo,son.Ajury’svote’ssupposedtobesecret.Servingonajuryforcesamantomakeuphismindanddeclarehimselfaboutsomething.Mendon’tliketodothat.Sometimesit’sunpleasant."
"Tom’sjurysho’madeupitsmindinahurry,"Jemmuttered.
Atticus’sfingerswenttohiswatchpocket."Noitdidn’t,"hesaid,moretohimselfthantous."Thatwastheonethingthatmademethink,well,thismaybetheshadowofabeginning.Thatjurytookafewhours.
