Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-12-19

and such a. letter" AS Mr.. Wesley
sometimes Cancelled as many as three
or four stamps In single day he
might have been pardoned his pride In
a. brain which thus lightly dealt with
the burden Of official business. He sur
rendered the letter with marked re-
luctance. 2y& & y
"Your surmise is correct" said the
Judge with dignity. II had occasion to
write my friend, General Jackson, and
unless am greatly mistaken I have
my answer here" And with fine air
of Indifference he tossed the letter on
the table.
"And you know Old Hickory cried
Mr.: Wesley. E.
."Why not? Does It surprise you?"
inquired the Judge. It was only his IN
nate courtesy which restrained him
from kicking the postmaster into the
street. so intense was his desire to
be rid Of him. II
mo, 1 don't know as 1t does, Judge.
Naturally public man like him is In
the way of meeting with all sorts. A
politician can't afford to be too blame
particular. Well, next time you write
you might just send him my regards
lG. W. NJ. de l.. Wesley's regards
there was considerable contention over
my getting this office; reckon he
amt forgot. There was speeches made.
f, I understand the lie was passed De-
tween two United States senator's,
and that quid of tobacco was throwed
in anger" Having thus clearly estab-
lished the fact that he was a more or
less national character, Mr.. Wesley
took himself. off. II.
When he had disappeared from sight
down the street. the Judge closed the
door. Then he picked up the letter.
For a long moment he held 1t In his
hand, uncertain, fearful, while his
mind slipped back into the past until
his inward searching vision ferreted
out handsome soldierly figure--his
own.
That's what Jackson remembers IL
he remembers anything" he muttered.
as with trembling fingers he broke the
seal. Almost instantly a smile over
spread his battered features. He
hitched his chin higher and squared
his ponderous shoulders. II am not
forgotton-no,. damn it-no!" he ex-
ulted under his breath. Recalls me
with sincere esteem and considers my
services to the country as we'll worthy
of recognition" the Judge breathed
deep. What would Mahaffy find to say
now! Certainly this was we'll calcu-
lated to disturb the sour cynicism OF
his friend. His bleared eyes brimmed.
After all his cropping he had touched
hands with the realities at last! Even
a federal judgeship, though not an
office of the first repute in the south,
had its dignity it signified some
thing! He would make Solomon his
clerk! The Judge reached for his hat.
Mahaffy must know at once that for
tune had mended for them. Why, at
that moment he was actually in receipt
of an income!e Isl
He sat down. the better to enjoy the
! unique sensation. Taxes were being
levied and collected with no other end
In view than his stipend-his ardent
fancy saw the whole machinery of gov
eminent in operation for his benefit.
1t was singular feeling he expe-
rienced. Then promptly his. spend
thrift brain became active. He needed
clothes-so did Mahaffy-so did his
grandson; they must take larger
house; he would buy himself man
!
stiles as he now viewed them.
| Once again he reached for his hat,
the desire to rush off to Belle Plain
was overmastering. &S f.
II reckon I'd be justified in hiring a
conveyance from Pegloe," he thought,
but just here he had a saving mem.
DRY of his unfinished task; that
claimed and he resumed his pen.
| An hour later Pegloe's black boy
presented himself to the judge. He
came bearing gift. and the gift ap.
propriately enough was a square case
bottle of respectable size The judge
was greatly touched by this attention,
but he began by making a most tenn.
Derate use of the tavern-keeper's offer
ing: then as the formidable document
he was preparing took shape under his
hand he more and more lost that Spar
tan fortitude which had at first sus.
tanned him in the presence of tempta.
ton. He wrote and slipped in complete
and quiet luxury. and when at last he
had exhausted the contents of the bot
tie it occurred to him that it would be
only proper personally to convey his
thanks to Pegloe. Perhaps he was not
inspired in this by Interior hopes: II
SO. they were richly rewarded The
resources of the city tavern were sud.
denly placed at his disposal. He at.
tributed this to a variety of causes all
good and sufficient. but the real reason
never suggested itself, indeed it was
of such a perfidious nature that the
judge. open and generous-minded
could not have grasped 1t.
BY six o'clock he was undeniably
drunk: at eight he was sounding still
deeper depths of inebriety with only
the most confused memory Of impend.
ling events: at ten he collapsed and
was borne upstairs by Pegloe and his
black boy to remote chamber in the
| kitchen wing. Here he was undressed
and put to he'd. and the tavern-keeper
! making a bundle of his clothes, retired
from the room, locking the door after
him. and the judge was doubly pris
oner. III
! Rousing at last from heavy
dreamless sleep, the judge was
aware Of faint impalpabIe light
in his room. the ashen light OF
To- I,,11 nctNhas Iou a.