Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-03-17
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
Judge MARYLAND
= Of Tacoma
GOrisinaL.l

! Schermerhorn stood in the main hall,
leaning against n newell post. asking
each guest to reveal his or her identity
before going up stairs to the robing
rooms. Mrs. SchermerhOrn came TO
him, told him that he was wanted in
the supper room and took his place
| while he WAS away. \ guest passed
her, a man in the dress of Il Turkish
! pasha, VINO gave the name of n prOmi-
| nent citizen. Judge Nicholson, but as
| his voice sounded unfamiliar the lady
suspected him. Happening to go up
stairs while most of the guests were ut
supper she saw the pasha i'm her bed
room gathering up loose pieces of jew
elry on her dressing case. Since there
was no one else on the floor. the lady
was terrified, especially as the pasha.
finding himself discovered, started and.
Mrs. SchermerhOrn guessed, was think
ing of throttling her. However. she
rose to the occasion.
"Why, judge" she exclaimed. you
have got into the wrong dressing
ROOM
Have ~ inquired the judge. isn't
it the gintlemen's room I'm in:'
"Oh, no. The gcntlemen's room is at
the other end of the hail.
Thank We, ma'am. 1 name I'm
obleeged to We for the information.
I'll jist go in there Il bit"
when you come down, want to in
troduce you to some of my friends"
iii be with We in wan moment. I'll
go now" added the pasha. who sud-
denly remembered that the robinS
rooms were too high above ground to
escape from Il window and preferred
to take his chances on the main floor.
Mrs. Sclermerh0rn had n problem to
solve. She did not dare to denounce
the man for fear, in desperation, he
would kill some of those who attempt
ed to take him. Besides. she did not
wish tG mar her ball by a disaSreeable
episode. She did not even dare let him
see that she suspected him. She knew
that he was watching her in order to
deter her from communicating the Sc
cret without his knowledge. Her first
thought was to find her husband. but
she knew that among SO many this
was n matter of chance. Reaching the
drawing room with her companion. she
saw the real Judge Nicholson across
the room in his official robe, in lieu OF
costume, and carrying his mask in his
hand. Catching his eye, she beckoned
him.
Judge" she said when he reached
her, 81 want to present your twin
brother. He gives his name as Judge
Nicholson, though he is in the costume
of Turkish pasha."
81 beg yer pardon" explained the
burglar, stammering. Il gave me name
as Judge MARYLAND"
From where?' asked Judge Michel
son. There is no Judge MARYLAND in
our city"
"Oh, I'm from away out west-Ta-
coma"
Tacoma" repeated the lady medita-
tively-"Judge MARYLAND from Tacoma.
You must be one of my husbands
friends
''Yes, ma'am. l knew him before We
were married. We was great pals in
thin days.
Where did you study law2" asked
Judge Nicholson.
Law, is it? 1 studied law in the
university-let me see
Wasn't it under Judge Lynch?" ask
ed the interrogation to help him out.
Now, I'm thinkin' it was Judge
Lynch"
BY the lady's looks and the replies of
Judge MARYLAND of Tacoma Judge
Nicholson had by this time taken in
the situation.
Don't stay here. Mrs. Schermer-
horn" he said. "Your guests need
you, I'm sure. Judge MARYLAND and
will talk shop awhile
The hostess hurried away and with
out stopping to find her husband tele-
phoned to the police station. 1t was
but a few minutes before a couple of
uniformed men stepped into the hall,
and at the same time the twin judges
emerged from the drawing room. Judge
Nicholson carefully keeping his broth
er Of the bench before him. Then the
two judges and the two policemen
stood face 20 face.
Good evening. Martin" said the
real judge to one of the policemen.
You're just in time. / want to intro
duce you to Judge MARYLAND CT Ia
coma. He studied law under Judge
Lynch and has come to US to learn a
few more points in the profession.
Take off his mask
The removal revealed-the features of
as ugly looking villain as ever occu-
pied cell.
what! Bill Murphy exclaimed
the policeman.
william" remarked the judge,
when we last met think I was pay
ing you the compliment to provide you
with quarters in the penitentiary for
ten years. Six months only haying