Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-12

, mailed after night, and when I seen it
! in the morning l was clean beat.
couldn't locate the handwriting, and
yet kept that letter back couple OF
| days and give it all my spare time.
1t amt that I'm one OF your spying
sort-there's nothing Of the Yankee
about me!'
Certainly not" agreed the judge.
Candid, Judge I reckon you wrote
that letter, seeing this one comes I'M
| der a frank from Washington. No, sir
Il couldn't make out who was cor
Responding with the president, and 1t
worried Inc, not knowing, more than
anything I've had to contend against
since I came into office. | calculate
there amt postmaster in the united
States takes more personal interest
in the service than me. I've frequent
ly set patrons right when they was
in doubt as to the date they mad
mailed such and such letter. AS
Mr. Wesley sometimes Cancelled as
many as three or four stamps IN a
single day he might have been par
doned his pride in brain which thus
lightly dealt with the burden OF OFF,
cial business. He surrendered the
letter with marked reluctance.
Your surmise Is correct" said the
judge with dignity. IL had occasion
TO write my friend, General Jackson,
and unless l am greatly mistaken L
have my answer here" And with a
fine air of Indifference he tossed the
letter on the table.
And do you know Old Hickory?"
cried Mr.. Wesley.
Why not? Does it surprise you?'
inquired the judge. 1t was only his
innate courtesy which restrained him
from kicking the postmaster into the
street, so intense was his desire TO
be rid of him.
No, | don't know as it does, judge.
Naturally public man like him is in
the way Of meeting with al! sorts. A
politician can't afford to be too blame
particular. Well, next time you write
you might just send him my regards
G. W. Nj. de l.. Wesley's regards
there was considerable contention
over my getting this office; reckon
he amt forgot. There was speeches
made, l understand the lie was passed
between two United States senators,
and that a quid Of tobacco was
throwed in anger" Having thus clear
ly established the fact that he was a
more or less national character, Mr..
Wesley took himself off.
When he had disappeared from
sight down the street, the judge closed
the door. Then he picked up the let
ter. For long minute he held it in
his hand, uncertain, fearful, while his
mind slipped back into the past until
his inward searching vision ferreted
out handsome soldierly tigure-his
own.
That's what Jackson remembers if
he remembers anything" be NUT
tered, as with trembling fingers he
broke the seal. Almost instantly
smile overspread his battered fea-
lures. He hitched his chin higher and
squared his ponderous shoulders. Il
am not forgotten-no, damn it-no!"
he eXulted under his breath. "RecallS
me with sincere esteem and consid-
ers my services to the country as we'll
worthy OF recognition" the judge
breathed deep. What would Mahatfy
find to say now! Certainly this was
we'll calculated TO disturb the sour
cynicism Of his friend. His bleared
eyes brimmed. After all his cropping
he had touched hands with the reall-
ties at last. Even federal Judgeshlp.
though not an office OF first repute In
the south, had its dignity-it signitied
something! He would make Solomon
his clerk! The judge reached FOR MS
hat. Mahaffy must know at once that
fortune had mended for them. Why,
at that moment he was actually in
receipt Of an income!
He sat down, the better to enjoy
the unique sensation. Taxes were be-
ing levied and collected with no other
end in view than his stipend-his ar
dent fancy saw the whole machinery
OF government in operation for his
benefit. 1t was a singular feeling he
experienced Then promptly his
spendthrift brain became active. he
needed clothes-so did Mahaffy-so
did his grandson; they must take a
larger house: he would buy himself 4
man servant: these were pressing ne
cessities as he now viewed them.
Once again be reached for his nat;
the desire to rush off to Belle Plain
was overmastering.
Il reckon I'd be justified in hiring
conveyance from Pegloe, he
thought, but just here he had a saw
ing memory OF his unfinished task;
that claimed precedence and he re-
sumed his pen.
An hour later Pegloe's black boy
presented himself to the judge. he