The Washington bee., 1899-02-25
A RASCAL F0ILED.

Judge William Richards was putting
away his papers one winter afternoon,
preparatory to leaving the Office for the
day, when he was interrupted by the
entrance Of a 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 Of
fee building, but he acceded to his
visitors request and courteously 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, 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 good deal about your
affairs; then my business with you will
be more readily understood"
The Judge nodded, wondering
"AI the age of q" the stranger con-
tinued, you commenced practicing law
in this city. A year later you disap-
peared out west and were gone two
years. Almost Immediately after you
came back you made great hit with
a brilliant speech, and business began
to come your way. You settled down,
worked hard, and your success was
great. You have a big practice, are
an eX-circuit judge, and Is months ago
you missed an election to Congress by
only few hundred votes Another
election comes up within six months,
and you are sure of winning. Mining
investments you made out in Colorado
have yielded enormous returns, and
you are reported to be worth between
100000 and 100000. Your social po-
sition 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 aris-
tocratic man of this section of the
country. / am right so far, 1 be-
ieve?"
YES" replied the lawyer, right
enough, but / 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 busi-
ness you may not call it strictly legal
Judge Richards paused to relight
his cigar-'T am a little hard up at
present, and so / came to you 1 want
10000
Hoh, you do?" calculated the aston
lshed judge.
"Exactly-s10,OOO. The day before
yesterday you deposited $4,000 in the
First National Bank. Most Of it. be-
lieve, was to go for a certain ornament
you are to give to certain young lady,
but want $4,000 of it and must have
it. Blackmail you understand"
We'll, I'll be d--di" said the
Judge family.
Yes" laughed his visitor. You
certainly will be, socially and political
ly, if you do not provide for my neces-
sities'
We'll, you certainly are cool one,"
CALCULATED the judge, slowly recovering
from his astonishment, "but before I
turn over this trifiing sum to you, per-
haps you will kindly enlighten me as to
The obligation 1 am paying off with
It."
The judge had recovered enough to
hn iao1 1arrS hav
yet.
That's only fair. Hear one part
Of my story that | omitted a moment
ago. While out west you met a GER
tain May Robbins. Remember her?"
The lawyer made no reply.
We'll / had a talk with her some
time ago, and she says that she is your
wife. What do you think of that?"
Think of it? / think that it is an
unmitigated lie"
'Oh, indeedi Well, what do you
think Of this?" And he took from
his pocketbook a folded sheet of note
paper, and handed it TO the Judge.
He read slowly:
My Darling May got to the Point
all safe in the night and leave for the
coast early in the morning. 1 will
send for you and the little one in a.
few weeks. The sheriff managed to
wing me, but it is nothing serious.
Your affectionate husband.
w. II. r.
The judge looked keenly at his visit
5r. 'Well?"
This is your writing believer"
The judge nodded.
"And the initials OF your name form
the signature. Now what do you sup
pose would happen If / showed that
note to Senator Holt?"
For reply the lawyer tore it into
small bits and tossed them into the
fire.
''oh, that's all right" said the other
cheerfully. You surely don't sup