Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-06-24
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Strict Enforcement of Law.
IOiginal.l


in Tokyo whereia plumber was fixing
waterspout received a sprinkle Of
melted solder on her dress. She turned
upon the poor man like fury, declar-
ing that the,dress was ruined, that she
had just received it from its maker,
that it was worth 500. and demanding
that he pay thei amounts at once.
The plumber, iwho probably had new
or possessed shalt thet amount in his
life, was very much chagrined. He eX-
planned thatShis ladle thad slipped and
the injury totthe dressIwas entirely un-
! intentional.
"That hasi nothing to do with the
matter. Youtruinedtmy dress, and you
law wellIenough to be sure of my posi-
ton"
"But Iihave not the money to pay"
"Then you shall go to Jail"
"But, my noble tlady. consider my
wife, and children. While 1 am in Jail
they will starve."
II have nothingIto do with your wife
andA children. buy a new dress; you
ruindt; must have the cost, and you
mushpay it Thelmisfortune is yours"
Theman was beside himself. He had
scarcely a dollar lin the world. What
was he to do?
III pay you dollar a week." he
said piteously, "till all is paid"
"Thgt would take two years. No. l
must have my money now. Since you
will not pay you shall go before the
justice. He will find out whether you
have the money
With that she called policeman and
had the plumber taken before jus
tice. The court was in session, and
after waiting awhile the lady secured
hearing. She told her side of the
case. The plumber admitted that,
through an accident which occurred
while the lady was passing, her dress
had been injuEed by his solder. He de-
clared that he would pay in time, but
he could not pay at once. He begged
the court to have pity upon him and
not send him to Jail, for without his
support lhis family would starve.
at all'rests with the plaintiff" said
the Judge You have ruined her dress
and must pay the damage. This is the
law. 1t rests with her whether she
lets you, off from immediate payment"
said the lady.
You hear" said the judge. "You
must pay the hundred dollars or go to
jail"
Then I must go to jail" said the
plumber giving way to grief, land my
poor little ones-what will become of
them?"
AT this point man in the garb Of
merchant arose and said:
eff the plaintiff only wishes to re-
ceive the amount representing the
damage to the garment 1 will pay it,"
My dress is ruined said the wom-
an. II must have all it costa hun
bred dollars"
1.-THE law gives you that, believe"
"And at once"
''That is also the law"
Taking from his wallet a hundred
dollars, the merchant gave it to the
lady. She took it greedily and, having
got all she wanted, was turning to
leave the court when the merchant
said:
Having paid the full value of your
garment, it is mine"
Certainly. You can have it as soon
as get home"
"That is not the law which gave you
the amount of the damages at once,
and it gives me the dress at once"
what! Do you expect me to give
it to you here before all these peopleT'
CT certainly do"
Judge" said the woman, at appeal
TO you. Does the law require me to
make public spectacle of myself?'
cit gives your garment to its owner
at once
''I'n not take it off till get home"
said the lady spitefully, land L would
like to see any one try to take it off me
by force"
"No one will do that" said the judge.
eff you do not deliver it at once you
must go to jail"
The woman stood stupefed.
'Take back your money" she said to
the merchant
'T want my dress.'
''I'll buy 1t back for twice what I
paid for it."
''The offer is not accepted"
1.-TWO hundred, three hundred, four
hundred, five hundred"
"As for myself" said the merchant,
"I would not sell the dress for any
sum, but since this plumber is in need
of money L will take what you offer
and pay it TO him.
The lady, who had plenty OF money,
sent for the amount to be paid and |
when it came gave it to the merchant, |
who handed it to the plumber. The |
poor man was quite beside himself at |
the sudden turn the affair had taken. |
The sum was more than he would earn |
in a year.
GOOD day, madam" said the mer-
chant.
She cast spitefuI glance at him and |
was suddenly struck dumb. He had |
dropped the merchants robe, and in |
the richly embroidered apparel beneath |
she recognized the son of the mikado
and heir apparent TO the throne. Like