The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-03-04
BAKERS AWAKENING
by MRS. NJ. L. RAYNE.


western judicial district, was on his way
to Chicago to attend banquet given in his
honor by the Legal Light club, and his
whole appearance radiated satisfaction with
himself and all the world. He had at
tanned the height of his political ambi-
ton, and was recently married to the
woman of his choice, and enjoying life in the
beautiful home he had planned and built.
His health and temper We're uniformly
good, and what more of fortunes favors
could he reasonably expect? The judge
was both contented and grateful.
Yet that very morning he had received
an anonymous letter threatening his life.
He knew it was from the "pal' of Grim
inal he had sent to the penitentiary, and
it did not cause him moments anxiety,
but he had left his wife in tears. She had
bought him a silver-mounted revolver and
begged him to go armed. And he had
laughed at her fears and refused to carry
the weapon.
"You would make me lawbreaker, Myr-
tle,' he had said, "by causing me to carry
concealed weapons. | am used to threats
and am not afraid of them. Those fellows
know that they are guilty and deserve all
they get, and they know, too, that | am too
old bird to be caught mapping, and not
one of them dares to look me in the eye.
They can only buster and threaten at
safe distance by mail Besides, if [ am to
be marked for sacrifice will fall in the track
of duty"
So Judge Baker carried with him on his
trip neither weapons nor worries. He threw
OFT every care and was as genial at heart as
he was in appearance. As he was speeding
along on the Omaha express he gave himself
up to the prospect of freedom and enjoy
ment of the next few days. So absorbed was
he in his own pleasing thoughts that the
| man who was sharing his seat between sec
tons had asked him for the correct time
i twice before he knew that he was ad-
dressed. Then the judge pulled out the
massive gold watch, which was a present
! from admiring political friends, and had
the miniature of beautiful woman-his
wife-painted on the inside of the cover.
''Ten minutes slow, am L? That accounts
i for my being late at the station. Are you
sure'-he compared his watch with the
other man's-"do we lose time going east
or gain it?'
THAT depends on how far west you live
or have travelled. Omaha? There is no diff
| ference in the time between Omaha and Chi
cage. My watch is eccentric, and l cannot
depend on it, but can guess within three
minutes either way OF the right time"
Gan English timepiece?" said the Judge,
looking at the watch curiously. "Where
have | seen that watch before? 1t resem-
bles one that belonged to my grandfather.
The old gentleman left it to me. Permit
me-"
The judge held out his hand intending to
take the watch for inspection, but his re-
quest was evidently not heard, as the own.
er of the timepiece returned tito his peck
ct in peremptory fashion.
81 wonder if he takes me for a con man?''
thought the judge humorously; then, as his
seat mate was not talkative, he leaned his
head against the cushions and cogitated on
the speech he would make in answer to the
toast to which he would be asked to re
spond. He had reached the point where he
would fervently address the brilliant as
semblage as, "My honored colleagues OF
the bar" when he felt touch on his arm
and was suddenly addressed by his compan
ion.
"Observe those two men across the
aisle! Shameful! Shameful That boy in
cadets uniform is being confdenced by
that man who has his back toward us. ]
have been watching the fellow and am sat
! isfed he has played some kind of a skin
game on the boy. Hear that?"
4 The cadet was pleading in a youthful
passionate voice for the return of some
object which the man talking to him held
in his hand and which was etfectually con
cealed from observation by his position.
Give it back, tell you'll" whimpered
the cadet; 81 don't mind losing the money
but give back my mothers watch; you card
sharp, you thief"
"Where is the conductor? Will no one
save that poor boys watch?" demanded
the man with the Judge, who had no wish
to get into any judicial scrimmage, anc
was annoyed to find himself in too ia
miliar criminal element out of business
hours.
Another cry from the boy determined the
judges fellow passenger to take part il
the affair. The express was slowing up fol
a station, and the man who had the ca
diets watch in his hand, the chain dangling
from his fingers, made a rush for the door
pursued by the cadet bawling: Stop thief
and close in pursuit, fourishing revolver
followed the interested passenger, who hae
drawn the judges attention to the out
rage.
Stop thief! Stop Thief" he sroutet
as he ran; stop OF I'll fill you with lead
You shall not rob that boy of his moth
er's watch. Give it back or III fire, ID
you!"
Through the pandemonium which fol
lowed the judge never moved from hi
seat. Indeed, the whole transaction wal
over in a flash light, and the passengers wht
had ducked their heads had not lifted then
when the train was moving away from tn,
station. No report of revolver had sound
ed, and the indignant passenger had not re
turned when the conductor walked through
the car. He was besieged by questions.
''Did the boy get his watch?"
Is there any danger of being murdered 2
''Why do you allow such thing to hap
pen?"
did the man with the revolver shoot 2
What do you mean?" asked the Judge
sitting upright and beginning to look inter
ested. you don't suspect that he was on,
of the gang?"
That's just what, Judge Baker" an
swered the conductor, who was fellow
townsman of the Judge. 81 would hav,
given you the wink, but was sure you knev
the fellow that was sitting with you. Why