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

Bt)RN UN F.RlDA4 L.
Judge William Richards was busy
putting away his papers one bright
winter afternoon. preparatory to
leaving his Office for the day, when
he was interrupted by the entrance
of q tall, well dressed young man,
who said he wished to consult him
ON very important mattdr. 1t was
the holiday season. and the judge
was the last one left in the large Of
Zee building, but he acceded to his
visitors request and ccurteously of
fered him a chair.
The stranger took cigar from
his pocket and lighted it, glancing
sharply about the room meanwhile,
and spoke in a.brisk, businesslike
manner.
Judge Richards, i" he said, "be-
fore telling you my name and busi-
ness I wish to mention a few Incl
dents in your past life and also to
touch on your circumstances at pres
emit see you are surprised, but !
wish you to see that I know good
deal about your affairs; then my
business with you viii be more read
lily understood.
The Judge nodded wondering.
"At the age of 21," the stranger
continued, "you commenced prac-
ticing law in this city. A year later
You disappeared out west and were
gone two years. Almost Immediate
II after you came back you made a
great hit with a brilliant speech,
and business began to come your
way. You settled down, worked
hard, and your success has been
great. You have big practice, are
an ex-circuit judge, and 18 months
ago you missed an election to con-
gress by only few hundred votes.
Another election comes up in six
months, and you are confident of
winning. Mining investments you
made out in Colorado have yielded
enormous returns, and you are re-
puted to be worth between $500, 600
and $500, 600. Your social position is
high, and-pardon me-in ten days
you are to be married to Miss Holt,
the only daughter of Senator Holt,
the most distinguished and aristo-
cratic man of this section of the
country. / am right so far, / be-
Meveg'
eyes" replied the lawyer, fright
enough, but / must say I fail to see
how my private history can affect
any legal business you may have
with me. ("
The stranger laughed easily.
perhaps when you hear my busi-
ness you may not call it strictly
legal. Judge Richards paused
to relight his cigar-SI am a little
hard up at present, and SO I came to
you. want $4,000.
"Oh, you dof" CALCULATED the as
tonished judge.
"Exactly-s1o, 600. The day be-
fore yesterday you deposited SIS, 600
in the First National bank. Most of
it, I believe, was to go for certain
ornament you are to give to GER
tain young lady, but ] want $4,000
of it and must have it. Blackmail,
you understand. !"
"well, I'll be d--d!" said the
judge family.
"Yes," laughed his visitor. "You
certainly will be, socially and po-
itically, if you do not provide for
my necessities.
"well, you certainly are cool
one" CALCULATED the judge, slowly
recovering from his astonishment,
"but before I turn over this trif1ing
sum to you perhaps you will kindly
enlighten me as to the obligation
am paying off with it. !"
The Judge had recovered enough
to be ironical, but hardly very angry
as yet.
'"That's only fair. Hear ore part
of my story that l omitted a mo-
ment ago. While out west you mot
certain May Robbins. Remember
her2''
The lawyer made no reply.
"Well, had talk with her some
time ago, and she SAYS that she is