Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-10-11
HOW THE OLD LADY BEAT JOHN.

We had been driving out some miles
in the afternoon, and, coming home in
the twilight, passed substantial look
ing, though very old, farmhouse, with
comfortable barns and out-buildings,
indicating weil-to-do householder.
The rich bottom lands which stretched
away a half mile from the river to the
hill slopes covered with abundant
birch and maple were luxuriant with
grain and corn.
That evening, when we were sitting
in the library, after dinner, smoking
and chatting, | asked the Judge: ''To
whom does that farm we passed on the
level belong?'
The Judge is not and never was on
the bench. Yet long as l had know
him, and that was IA long time, he had
been called Judge by all the country
people, because it was an established
fact of ancient date that he decided most
of the disputes and differences, CONNER
cial and social, which arose in that part
of the country. 1t is frequently the
case, as here, that one man in scat
tered community is the recognized add
wiser to whom people can go. My old
friend had inherited this position from
his father, who had been to former
generation what the son now was to his
neighbors. They came to him on all
occasions when they needed coun-
sci, and he did the work of half
dozen lawyers. No one had
died or could die comfortably
and leave property, unless his
will had been drawn by Judge -"
He had the perfect confidence of all.
Living from youth up among them,
known to be man of extended educa-
ton, whose life was passed in study.
but who was also {, practical farmer of
great skill and success, having large
property, and always giving his advice
and service as matter of friendship
and neighborly kindness, and not for
fee or reward, his position was one of
commanding influence. His influence
was commanding too for the reason that
he almost never exertad it. He took no
prominent part in politics, but in the old
times, before the war, there were at
least two hundred voters in the town,
and many more in the country, who
could give no other reason for their
votes than this, that they voted as the
Judge voted
l have said that he drew the wills for
people who had property. This was no
small generosity, for it involved much
time and often great Inconvenience.
But the Judge was an essential part of
the social structure in that town, and
quietly performed what be regarded
as the duty and pleasure of his posi-
ton.
When asked him who was the owner
of that farm he laughed outright, and
after moments pause SAID: Il will
tell you story"
night, l was sitting here reading. the
rest of the family having gone to sleep
long before, when old DIR. Strong thun-
dered at the door-knocker, and made
noise enough to wake the Seven Sleep
ers. 1t is a way he has; and neither my
wife nor the girls, who were reused out
of slumber, nor l myself, had any
question who was at the door. / let him
in myself, and tempest of wind and
snow with him. The blast that drove
him into my arms also put out the hall
lights, whirled into the library and
flared the reading lamp so that it broke
the chimney and blazed up to a colOred
tissue-paper affair which Susie had put
over the shade, set it on fire, and for a
moment threatened general confiagra-
ton of papers and books on the table.
Shut the door yourself, shouted, and
rushed back here to put out the fire.
That done, l went back and found the
old doctor out of breath, in the dark,
trying to shut the door against the wind.
1t took the strength of both of us to do
it. Then told him to find his way to
the library, for he knew it, and went
of in search of another lamp.
when came back he was Just re-
covering his wind, and after a gasp or
two told me his GRAND Old Mrs.
Norton is dying. She can't live till
morning. She's alive now only on
stimulan:s. She wants to make a will,
and have come for YOU
IA nice night / said. for two
mile drive. to make will for woman
who hasn't a cent in the world to leave.
Why didn't you tell her so and have
done with it,
"'Now look here said the doctor,
neighbor and friend, and she wants YOU
to do something for her, and you'll do
it, if it's only to comfort her last hours.
Get your things and come with me- We
shall not find her alive if you don't
hurry, and you'll be sorry if that hap
pens
"The upskot of it was that went.
We had fearful drive out to the farm
house on the fat, which you are asking
about. Mrs. Norton was the widow of
John Norton, who had died forty odd
years before this. John Norton, when
he married her, was a widower with
one son John. He was a man of con-
siderable property, and when he died
left a widow, that son John by his first
wife, and two sons by his second WIFE
The elder son John had never been on
very warm terms with Ills step-mother,
aud for some years had had no inter-
course with the family.
Il found the old lady lying in the big
room, on a great bedstead. on one side
Of the room. opposite to the broad
chimney in which was roaring fire,
the only light in the room. After the
doctor had spoken to her and admin
istered something, stimulant I sup
pose, he came over TO me and said
in a whisper: Hurry up; she's very
weax.'
Il had brought paper and pen and
ink with me. / found a stand and a
candle, placed them at the head of the
bed, and after saying a few words to
her told her / was ready to prepare the
will, if she would now go on and tell