The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-05-05
f ~ -, = 4 '-3ses sssisl

not believe that the woman could win
the case with her rorgAd documents.
but this fellow was just the kind of a
daredevil to 60 to the senato. with
his story and then to law. The sena.
tor would certainly postpone the wed.
ding, and there would be a long delay
Even though his daughter did not be
lieve the story, she would suffer. Of
course there would be endless talk ant
gossip. The story would be in tn
papers, old pranks of his younger days
would be raked up, and even though
he cleared himself finally there would
be bitter sting left. There would be
many to say that where there was SC
much smoke there must be some fire
Then his political aspirations! The
election was to come off in six months
Nice campaign material this scandal
would make for his opponents!
These thoughts and many more flash
ed through the judges mind, and he
glared at his visitor savagely. He
hadn't doubt IL at he meant every
word that he said Through his light
bantering tone there ran vein OF
earnestness and confidence that was
more dangerous than any loud buster
ing would have been. He was conf
dent that he had a good thing"
whether the judge paid up now or not.
The judges good thing seemed to
lie between paying out $4,000 in cash
or having big scandal on his hands
Suddenly a smile flashed across his
face, and then the lips were compressed
tightly. The stranger did not notice
the change of expression.
Well" said the judge, 81 must CON
fess that this is a pretty tight place.
Maybe we could discuss it better over
a drop of liquor"
He arose and opened a handsome
mahogany cabinet that fitted snugly
over the low mantel In another min
ute whisky, water, sugar and glasses
were placed Hospitality on the table.
Fill your glass" said the lawyer,
graciously. Ten thousand dollars is
enough money to deserve some con-
sideration before being parted with.
Bring your chair around in front of
the table 1t must be cold back there"
He pulled his chair close up to the
fire and the stranger did likewise, so
that they were sitting right in front
of the CRATE with their faces not four
feet from the smouldering flames.
Anyone looking in would have
thought that they were two old friends
taking a social evening toddy together.
Nov, then, sir, your scheme is sim
ply to blackmail me out of $4,000, |
believer"
Exactly so, Judge"
And you think you have pretty
good thing"
Sure of it.
IF | understand you rightly, you
say must give you this money, or you
will go'to Senator Holt and tell him
that have wife living out west, and
then you will go to law to force me to
give money to this woman, but II ]
give you the $4,000 you promise to
turn over the proofs to me and leave
the country"
Eyes, that's Just It."
AT the same time you admit that
all these documents of yours are for
geries and that the 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't hest
tate to swear just the opposite, and l
defy you to prove that | am lying"
well, you certainly are candid.
Aren': you a little afraid to acknowl-
edge all this so boldly?"
Not a bit of 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
grasping a pistol.
Now my young friend" said he,
pointing it at the visitors head. you
sit where you are and listen"
He reached in the cabinet over the
mantel and touched a spring. There
was monograph concealed in the
back of it. The judge had started it
when he got out the brandy. Now
he reversed it and attached a 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 pis-
toll and smiling pleasantly.
The strangers face was study. Sur
prise, rage, fear came and went, and
were finally succeeded by look OF
comical disgust
When the last word was finished the
lawyer could hold in no longer, and
burst into a hearty laugh. The stran-
ger glanced up in surprise, and his look
of cool impudence returned.
Judge, | tell you what we'll do.
Give me 800 and we'll call it square"
"Cool as ever, are you, my cheerful
liar?" laughed the other. "Now may
be you will tell me why l should not
send you to the penitentiary?"
ooh, you don't want to do that. You
are going to be married next week,
you know, and you would not like to
think that your marriage meant the
beginning of long term of suffering
to one of your fellow mortals."