The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-07-09
Selett Stprp.
BORN ON FRIDAY.
E. Jouett Simpson in Home Magazine

Judge William Richards was busy put
ting away his papers one bright winter
afternoon, preparatory to leaving his Office
for the day, when he was interrupted by
the entrance of tall, well dressed young
man, who said he wished to consult him
on a very important matter. 1t was the
holiday season, and the judge was the last
one left in the large Office building. but
he acceded to his visitor request and
courteously offered him a chair
The stranger took a cigar from his pocket
and lighted it, glancing sharply about the
room meanwhile and spoke in brisk,
business like manner.
Judge Richards" he said, 'before
telling you my name and business [ wish
to mention few incidents in your past
life and also to touch on your circumstances
at present [ see you are surprised, but
l wish you to see that know a good deal
about your affairs; then my business with
you will be more readily understood. -
The judge nodded, wondering.
cat the age of 21,'' the stranger con-
tinued, "you commenced practicing law in
this city A year later you disappeared
out west and were gone two years. Almost
Immediately after you came back you made
a great hit with brilliant speech, and
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 Is
months ago you missed an election to con
gress by only few hundred votes. An
other election comes up in six months, and
you are confident of winning. Mining in
vestments you made out in Colorado have
yielded enormous returns, and you are re-
puted to be worth between 5000, 900 and
$500, ,000 Your social position is high,
and-pardon me-in ten days you are to
be married to Miss Holt, the only daugh-
ter of Senator Holt, the most distinguished
and aristocratic man of this section of the
country. l am right so far, I believe"
"Yes,' replied the lawyer, Fright
enough, but 1 must say 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 business you may not
call it strictly legal Judge Richards =
he paused to relight his cigar-'I am a
little hard up at present, and so | came to
you. want $40, 000.'
''Oh, you do?' calculated the astonished
judge.
'!Exactly-s1O, 600. The day before
yesterday you deposited $15, 900 in the
First National Bank Most of it, | be-
lieve, was to 60 for certain ornament you
are to give to certain young lady, but |
want SO, 900 of it and must have it.
Blackmail, you understand y
"Well, I'll be d-dr said the Judge
family
"Yes," laughed his visitor You
certainly will be, socially and politically, If
you do not provide for my necessities.
"Well, you certainly are a cool one,
calculated the judge, slowly recovering
from his astonishment, ''but before | turn
over this trifing sum to you perhaps you
will kindly enlighten me as to the obliga-
ton l am paying off with it. ="
The judge had recovered enough to be
ironical, but hardly very angry as yet,
"That's only fair. Hear one part of
my story that I omitted moment ago.
While out west you met certain May
Robbins. Remember her?''
The lawyer made no reply.
"Well, [ had talk with her some time
ago, and she says that she is your wife.
What do you think of that?''
unmitigated ie!"
"Oh, indeed Well, what do you
think of this q And he took from his
pocketbook folded sheet of note paper.
and handed it to the judge. He read
slowly
Ny DARLING May got to the Point all
safe in the night and leave for the coast early
in the morning. l will send for you and the
little one in few weeks. The sheriff man
aged to ''wing' me, but it is nothing serious.
Your affectionate husband, w. Il. K.
The Judge looked keenly at his visitor.
"Wen?"
"This is your writing, | believe p
The Judge nodded
s'And the initials of your name form
the signature. Now, what do you sup
pose would happen if l showed that note
to Senator Holt?''
For reply the lawyer quickly tore it
into small bits and tossed them into the
fire.
"Oh, that S all rightI' said the other
cheerfully. "You surely don't suppose
that was big enough fool to give you
the original, do you? That was a copy
tracing paper, you know. Now, Judge
and he dropped his bantering tone
''come down to business. You dom t want
Senator Holt to see that note Give me
$40, 900, and in "a hours the note shall be
in your possession, and I will be out of the
way"
"Pshaw, man, said the lawyer con-
temptuously, "don't be a fool Don't
you suppose that a note like that can be
explained away? Ifyour woman-what's
her name, May Robbins ?-has any docu-
ments. bring them out, and | may talk to
you, but in the meantime l intend to see
that you work out your term in the peni-
tentiary.''
''But you acknowledge your writing p
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 gentlemanly thief
and all around scoundrel, Harry Roberts,