The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-07-09

Any one looking in would have thought
that they were two old friends taking a
social evening toddy together.
''Now, then, sir, your scheme is simply
to blackmail me out of SO, 600, I be-
ieve?''
Exactly, judge?'
"And you think you have pretty good
thing p
''Sure of it.
"lf | understand you rightly, you say [
must give you this money, or you will 90
to Senator Holt and tell him that [ have
a wife living out west, and then you will
go to law to force me to give money to this
woman, but if | give you the $40, 900 you
promise to turn over the proofs to me and
leave the country?''
Eyes, that's just it. -
cat the same time you admit that all
these documents of yours are forgeries and
that that letter you have of mine was
written for another man who happened to
have my initials ?'
''Oh, Of course | know all that. but if
you let it go to law wouldn hesitate to
swear just the opposite, and I defy you to
prove that [ am lying"
"Wen, you certainly are candid. Aren't
you little afraid to acknowledge all this
so boldly?"
Not bit Of it. OF course will deny
that ever admitted anything of the kind
If [ hadnt t admitted it, you would have
known it just the same, so what difference
does it make? 1t doesn't help you any,
and just makes things clearer between us.
| admit that the whole scheme is lie, but
you can t prove it, and 1 think that after
little consideration you will rather give
me what [ ask for than to try it. -
"Maybe you are right" muttered the
judge. Just wait minute
He stepped over to the big desk in the
corner, and when he turned he was grasp
ing pistol.
''Now, my young friend, said he,
pointing it at the visitor head, ''you sit
where you are and listen.
He reached in the cabinet over the
mantel and touched a spring. There was
phonograph concealed in the back of it.
The judge had started it when he got out
the brandy. Now he reversed it and at
tached funnel shaped device, and the
whole of the conversation came out in tones
that could be heard all over the room.
The judge sat in his chair, holding his
pistol and smiling pleasantly.
The strangers face was study Sur
prise, rage, fear came and went, and were
finally succeeded by look of comical dis
gust.
When the last word was finished, the
lawyer could hold in no longer and burst
into hearty laugh. The stranger glanced
up in surprise, and his look of cool impu-
dence returned.
Judge, [ tell you what we'll do.
Give me $100, and vel call it square. -
"Cool as ever, are you, my cheerful
liar? laughed the other ''Now maybe
You will tell me why should not send you
to the penitentiary
"Oh, you don want to do that You
are going to be married next week, you
know, and you would not like to think
IA6'O yum LAdllldSC llSdllC GIlt pcSSlulltlS Ol
long term of suffering to one of your fel-
low mortals -
The Judge was so pleased at getting out
of what a little while before had seemed
tight place that he laughed again.
"Well, " said he, ''you come back here
tomorrow at o clock and bring all your
little documents with you, and we will see
what is to be done In the meantime you
need not try to slip out of town, for l am
going to put the police to watching you
right away, and, my boy, before you try
this kind Of thing again let me advise you
to study up all the latest appliances for
thief catching, and they walked down the
stairs together.
Just as they reached the street hand
some double seated sleigh dashed up, and
a sweet voice said ''Oh, William, we
have been looking for you Come and
take tea with us, won you?''
''Thanks Delighted = And the Judge
threw away his cigar and climbed in.
His late visitor plunged his hands in his
pockets and stood looking after him blank
ly.
CD my internal luck p he said,
"And it all comes of being born on Fri
day p