Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-10-02
The Daily Short Story:
EN- BLEMS.
BY Barry Pain.

This" said the commander in chief,
sis the very devil. j had it at the last
invasion, three months ago, and told
one of You girls to clean 1t and put il
away I'm the bedroom. Here is another
invasion expected tomorrow. 1t is my
duty Ia lead my troops into the field
and repel IT, | cannot do that without
my sword. Therefore IL it is not found
the troops will not be led. the invasion
will not be repealed, and it will be all
over with this small but attractive
psincipality.''
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS went the bell.
Excuse me. SIR" said the house par
Iourer, but that's the front"
Never mind that said the COM
mander I'm chief. You go and have
another hunt for that sword. I'll an
swer the bell myself"
He found on the doorstep his old
friend. the lord chief Justice. a cor
Dulent gentleman with an expression
that betokened the very grayest ankle
~.
'How do. Bill?" said the lord chief
Justice. I'm in the deuce of mess.
I've lost the seal. the great seal, with
out which no death warrant is valid"
Dear me, James, that's very I'M
fortunate. How-er-does it affect
things?"
Criminals cannot be executed with
out a death warrant, and the death
warrant is not valid without the seal,
which it is my duty TO atfix. Already
one determined villain. with seventeen
assorted murders proved against him,
has had to he set free. He makes no
secret that lie intends to murder the
cross examining counsel, the COM
mander in chief and
Stop cried the commander in chief.
This is serious. This won't do at all,
you know. Can you not at least keep
this inhuInan villain in custody until
the great seal is found?"
Certainly not said the lord chief
Justice. II he man was not condemned
TO Imprisonment He was condemned
70 death. Without the great seal am
powerless Tomorrow you gain fresh
laurels by repelling with your custom
airy alacrity the invaders OF our coun-
try. while T.
Then you have not heard. / cannot
repel anything. l have lost my sword!'
But IL is of 10 practical value. Use
another or repel without il"
Quite Incorrect Not TO he thought
of. No. James. my old friend, we are
rIiuedi When the king hears that l
have lost my sword and that you have
lost the great seal. in spite of the
strong personal friendship which he
feels for both OF US he must as des-
potic monarch, with constitutional in
clinations. order our instant execu-
ton
This afternoon the king will, as is
his habit. be playing set OF pingpong
with the prime minister. We will pre-
sent ourselves then and throw our
selves upon his mercy"
As the commander in chief and the
lori chief Justice were ushered into
the kings presence they caught the
fatal words 'Game-and sett. 1t was
the prime ministeF's sett and practical
~ their sentence of death, But 1t was
too late TO withdraw now.
The king had risen from the ranks
and was pointed out i'll good books for
the young as an example OF what lit
tie boy can do. Some of his old habits
Of speech still chung to him. He adj |
rubbing his hands:
And what can L have the pleasure
Of showing you this mornings"
Your clemency and your forgive
ness" said the lord chief justice, and |
ne narrated the misfortunes which |
had befallen him and his companion.
All" said the king, Il am afraid L |