Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-06-07

Yves. YES" I heard. Il 90 Wait L"
sneak 70 him peryoaally-thisi is Judge
Billings."-a moment. ana lheh.
Morning, CONFERENCE.-The Is Bill
ings Fine, thank you! 8.
Oh. no, No bad effects at all-takes
more than that to throw q seasoned
oId diner like my What
say?"-a cacllling chuckle-"yes, |
knew the dinner would loosen him
upr Had his promise before We left
the table; Soakcm heard him-so did
Benedict. Yes-oh, yes; he's
cot it-had it with me, you know, IN
case, No-o-o, Of course not;
not a single line or scrap!'-a lower
drop of tone-"just in plain, blank
envelope-best way always, you know.
Yes, that gives us safe mar
gin in the senate now, not even count
ing upon what they do in commit
tee-and Soakem'll take care OF that
end Yes, he went back to
Albany this morning-he says the
bills safely deadern Hector now.
ny TIC way, NoiA'i''4t+~iot'
er,"-the Judge cleared his throat ant
his voice sobered: Little favor want
to ask-h'm! I'm being greatly an
noyed by some low vagabond con-
fined at one of the stations. &.
Yes, | really mean it.-Captatn Clutch
ems precinct, you know-and this
rufIian insists to them that he's my
son. No, indeed, I'm not jok-
ing at all. All right, you may
laugh, but l fail to appreciate the
funny side, myself-especially now,
YOU know, when I'm up to my neck
in this merger case. How S
that! What do l want done? On, l
wouldn't venture to say as to that.
| leave that to you! | know.
Yes, understand all that,
but wait-wait just min
ute! Now you listen"
The Judge concentrated moro in
tensely over the instrument.
You know what you asked me to
do when l saw you last highland
refused"-another voice drop-"With
the mayor, you know? Well-now list
en-you make assurance that this
scoundrel will not bother me for thir'
ty days and-weIl, l give you my word
that I'll do all l can to bring things
the way you want. Good!
Whatll you do with him?
Why, what in Sam Hill do I care what
you Go with him? Oh, but
say, Commissioner, yes, l do care,
too!'-a laugh here like a jolly fiend
Il shouldn't like for him to be put
away off in some nice, damp, dark cell
to cool off-he. he! he!-y'under-
stand?'
lie got so mixed up in his chucklins
and coughing that he couldn't get ont
another word for moment. Then
oh, no! Certainly, not; nor one
too hot and airless, as you say-he!
he! he! And don't put him-don't put
him" the judge was gasping for ali
now-"don't put him on bread and wa.
ter. or anything OF that kind, nor in a
cell with rude, rough men who would
tame his playful spirit-he! he! he!-
oh, don't do that! What say?
| didn't quite catch" And then, dash
it, it seemed he did catch it, for he
began waving his arm and pounding
the desk. "Oh-oh, no, that would be
too bad-really! Eth? Oh, well
you know best-it's up to you now!
Bye, and many thanks, Com
missioner! En-? All right. tomorrow
then at one at the Lawyers Club
YOU can 60 over again the points Of
what you want with the mayor. Bye!
At last with good humor perfect,
restored, he faced me, wabbling Xix
a jolly jellyfsh.
IS greatest joke ever heard OF il
my life!" he chortled.
''Oh. l say, how did you find Jack?
l asked, for that was the thing hat
begun to think Of
His face collapsed so dashed sud
den, was afraid it would break. Ant
from being peppery red, he changed
to devilish sickly yellow.
Awful" he said jerkily. Some
thing awful" And he groaned like ;
jolly horse in pain. Went up there
you know, but" his hands lifted ant
dropped; he shook his head-"didn'
seem to know me at all-was sittin
there in his pajamas examining with
magnifying glass some leaves be ha
pulled at the window. Seems obsesse
with some crazy patter OF talk
couldst understand-poor fellow!
The judge sighed. only thing h
seemed to want me to do for him wa
to promise to wear his pajamas tc
night-pajamas seem to be the focu
of his malady this time"
l swallowed pretty hard and looke'
down.
II promised" continued the judg
gloomily. And I'll do it-oh, yes
anything to humor him! He's to pu