The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-06-01
A JUDGES PREDICAMENT
BY JOHN RIDGARp.


1t was in October of 1892.
l was in the smoker of tho Mort
Shore limited, speeding north,r.r
aiong the shore of the Hudson and, a
the increasing darkness obscured tn
view OF the river and the Catskills. IN
attention was drawn to a couple q
gentlemen who sat nearly opposite m
ON the other side of the car. The
were evidently old friends and wer
engaged IN animated Conversations
animated, In fact, that it came clearl,
10 my ears We were the only passen
gers In the coach and, doubtless. m,
late preoccupation led them to disre
gard my presence in the fancied sc
curity OF the noise of the train 1t wa,
Tar from my thoughts to become ar
eavesdropper, but had no reason te
suppose there was anything confiden
tiai In their talk until had become SC
interested in what had heard that
smothercd all scrupies and listened to
the end
would never have known him. "
said one OF the two men, the farther
one from me, Though perhaps that is
not strange, for had not seen him for
twenty years. Yet knew you, old fell
low, the moment we met It is won
derful how little you have changed.
Tor all your gray hairs" and he put
his hand affectionately on the others
knee.
Il have held my own pretty well"
said the other, and his bright and still
youthful face flashed back an answer
ing smile, NOR can see much change
In you, George-a little stouter, some
what more staid, but that is all. What
streak of luck this is that should
have met you this afternoon when you
landed and that we should have this
ride to Chicago together"
But. say, Jack = this is the first
chance l have had to ask you-what
the deuce is the matter with Phil? He
has not only changed in appearance, +,
but has radically changed in manner.
Why, he is as fidgety as an old woman.
don't think he was half gladto see
me. In the olden time he was iollv
enough and right good fellow; but
to-day he hurried off on board his
steamer two hours ahead of time, when
we hadn't been together a minute.
Really, felt hurt"
"You are misjudging him, George.
He is good fellow and thinks lust as |
much OF you as he ever did. But he is |
not himself just now, and there is
every reason why he should not be. |
There is story connected with our trip
to New York which, in justice to him, I |
ought to tell you. lam sure he would
wish me to do so.
Il don't know that you are aware
that Phil has been very successful in
In his profession. He is Judge" and
the speakers voice here sank so low
that missed few words. when he
got to Chicago he took rooms for him
eelf and wife some six or eight blocks
south of the worlds fair grounds-and,
by the way, he has a charming wife.
must tell you to call upon her, for
she is still there, at the Palmer house.
She is to remain there until l return.
well, Phil and his wife put in a | '
couple of weeks at the fair. I met 1
Them there frequently and we had
many pleasant hours together. They
had seats reserved at the Auditorium.
When the time came Pills wife was :
,ired and didn't care to go. This more I
han inclined Phil to give up going, ]
nut he finally decided that he would 4
lot lose this his only chance of seeing il
very fine spectacular play that had v
lrawn great crowds during the fair. {
Before he came to Chicago he had pur- .
hased an elegant, self-cocking revolver
"A thing he had never owned before o
nd on that evening, at his wife's re- s.
uest, he put 1t in his hip pocket. D
HE took q street car for the fair
rounds, intending to take a train
here for the city. There was appar- W
ntly no standing room in the crowded il
,r, and it was with the greatest diff ST
Guilty that he secured footing on the W
sar platform lie
"Thc car had gone but two or three h,
locks when it stopped at crossing. hi
he pressure increased, people trod w
pom his feet and dug their elbows into st
S sides in their efforts to make way It
r some one who was coming from the on
side of the car. nj
1.-THE subject of all this commotion tr
me crowding by him toward the gi
z RSs IA RuooAhk AAilA Vic stranger Cl(
muttered word of apology as
d then, hurrying on. reached the ho
Fps and alighted. As he did so Phil Pt
ught the CLEAN of gold in the mans a
nd. de
'Instinctively he clapped his hand to wi
breast-his watch and chain were tn,
ne. They had belonged to his IA me
sr. He could not lose them. :
The car had started, but in = twin sib
ng Phil sprang to the ground. The str
n had reached the sidewalk, and as hir
passed under the street lamp Phil WI
' that he was fumbling about his fro
t, as If attaching a chain to aw
The houses are much ant
tered in that neighborhood and I
re was no one else in sight. tws
Drawing his revolver, Phil ran soft my
but swiftly after him. Tho man left
moving bsisl<ly down tho side Pre-