The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-04-13

think of thisf" And he took from
his pocketbook q folded sheet of note
paper and handed it to the judge.
BE reaG slowly:
MI DARLING MAY got to the Point nil ssfe
IN the night and leave for the coast early in the
morning. l Will send for you and the littlo
wing" me, but it Is nothing serious. Your
affectionato husband. ". 81, r.
The judge looked keenly at his
visitor. "Wellf"
This is your writing, I believef"
The judge nodded.
"And the initials Of your name
form the signature. Now. what do
you suppose would happen if I
showed that note to Senator Holtf"
For reply the lawyer quickly ore
it into small bits and tossed them
into the fire.
"Oh, that's all rightl'' said the
other cheerfully. "You surely don't
suppose that I was a big enough fool
70 give you the original. do Jouf
That was a copy-tracing paper, you
know. Now. judge"-and he drop
ped his bantering tone-"come down
to business. You don't want Sena-
tor Holt to sec that note. Give me
$40. 600, and in "a hours the note
shall be in your possession, and ]
will be out Of the way"
f. "Pshaw, man. said the lawyer
contemptuously. don't be a fooll
Don't you suppose that a note like
that can be explained away? If your
woman - what's her name, May
Robbins2-has any documents, bring
them out, and l may talk to you,
but in the meantime / intend to see
that you work out your term in tue
penitentiary."
fBut you acknowledge your writ
ing9" asked the stranger, ignoring
the threat.
Eyes. / wrote that note, but if you
know anything about it at all you
know that l wrote it for that gentle
manly thief and all around scoun-
drel, Harry Roberts, after the sher-
if had shot him through the hand
and he could not write for himself"
His visitor lighted a fresh cigar
and gazed calmly up to the ceiling.
Judge" he said, 81 hardly OK
pected you to give in just because of
that note. but I thought I might as
well try it at frst-just as a 'feeler,'
you might say. Now listen to me.
Weare alone here. No one is around
to listen. I never like to bluff
when ! hold a good hand. So I am
going to make honest confession,
and if my soul don't profit by it
maybe my pocket will. I kaow as
well as you do that that oman is
not your wife, but l must hayemon-
ey, and l wouldn't hesitate to swear
that che is. Harry Roberts, who
afterward married her, saved your
life when you first came out to that
country, a ~'tenderfoot.' So when he
got in trouble and had to skip out he
came mp to your cabin ON the Point
with his hand all smashed to fin
ders, and you felt called on to write
that note to his wife for him and to
help him out of the country. He was
caught, however, and hung after
ward, so he is out of the way.
"Now the case stands this way: l
am a %-tolerably we'll educated man
myself, and It wac 10 great trouble
for me to take Mays marriage GER
'tifcate and make William Henry
Roberts read William Herndon Rich
ards. If you remember May, you
know she is inscriptions. had a
friend in the clerks Office, and ]
managed TO get in there and change
the license the same. way. So you
e we have documents a-plenty.
You'll give me the $40, 600 before
noon tomorrow or j will show your
note to Senator Holland commence
legal proceedings to compel you'to
provide support for your wife, nee
Robbins"
The judge was mad clear through
now. and he rose up and started for
bis svisitor with blood in his eye.
The stranger sprang behind the ia
BILE.
EASY, now," he cried, "or I'll
let you have it through the pocket"
And the lawyer cav that he was
grasping a pistol in the side pocket
Of HE coat. He was by no means a
coward, but he. did not care to run
against a pistol bullet. He took his
Seat again.
g That's better" commented the
There is no need OF vio-
lence in this matter. / hope. I don't
want to hurt you. just cool down a
little and consider my proposition
for q few minutes then tell me what
you think Of it,"
II don't hpve to consider to tell
you that you are the most unmiti-
gated liar and sscoundrel unhungi'
aaid%he judge, keeping his temper
with difficulty. But don't suppose
n S,,ox, ~r,ho sc ~ - or~~~1.-s -