The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-07-04
CHAPTER VI. =
IT PUZZLED THE JUDGE,

While the little party was on it's way
to the abode of justice, Drane had time
to bring his mind to one definite and
valuable conclusion. His mlstortunes
on similar occasion had been aggra-
waited by his own injudicious utterances.
He resolved to keep still this time, even
if he had to hire somebody to gag him.
1t was little that he knew about New
York except as to its pavements and its
distances. and both these he was prepared
to condemn as emphatically as would
any reformer. He had not supposed
that his second arrest took place in the
same judicial district in which his first
came to pass. BY reason of his rehabili-
tation his nerves had maintained fair
poise during tho short journey to the
court, but when he saw the ornate tower
of Jefferson market ahead of him and
then realized that he was bound to ap-
pear before the same justice who had
lectured him but a day or two previous
ly, they fell to quivering ominously.
Nevertheless he kept up appearances
and entered the court room with an air
of dignified self-possession.
The bulk OF tho days business had
been cleared away, SO he and his COM
panion in distress were summoned at
once to the bar.
''What is this case?" demanded the
judge.
''This man." responded the police
man, jerking his thumb towards the
ragged tramp, accuses this gentleman
of stealing his Clothes"
The judge glanced in surprise from
one to the other of the parties, and
he looked sharply at Lawrence as if the
face reminded him of somebody. Then
he ordered the complainant to step up
and asked him his name.
Lawrence Drane," was the cool reply
Again the judge seemed to be trying
to recall something out of the dim re-
cesses of his memory, but the effort
failed, and he composed himself to lis
ten to the complainant's story. The
false Drane told exactly what had hap
pened at the bath-house, not deviatinr
in the slightest particular from the
truth, except as his story implied his
claim to ownership in the clothes which
the real Drane had on.
"Did you ever see the prisoner be-
fore?" asked the Judge.
81 think l saw him not moro than
three days ago." replied the impostor;
sit was late in the afternoon and he had
skate on. l remember him because
of these rags which he wore at the
time"
The judge turned to Mr.. Drane, who
had been listening intently, and began
the examination in the usual way, by
asking his name. Lawrence was vehe-
mently moved to denounco his aecuser,
but he recalled his determination to
control his tongue in this episode: there
fore he responded simply:
Lawrence Drane."
A big scowl tangled the judges eye.
brows and puckered up his lips. Judicia
was again in process of castiga
ton. This time the mental prodding
turned up clew.
"Haven't you been here beforer' he
demanded sternly.
Mr.. Drane's conscience wriggled and
groaned under the temptation of men,
dacity. He was immorally certain that
a good lie would be more efiicacious in
the emergency than a guardian angel;
but his gentlemanly instincts revolted
at lying, especially when he know h
was in tho right. Moreover the ange
was present the courtroom, though
Lawrence didn't know it and she had
not as yet discovered him. Perhaps her
influence had something to do with in
ducing him to falter an affirmative tc
the judges question. Tho reply stimu,
lated the judges memory wonderfully.
"You tried to pass yourself under two
names then, didn't you?" he continued.
MAY l explain, your honor"
"Did you or didn't you? Speak upr'