Rocky Ford enterprise., 1912-09-27

ems precinct, you know-and this
ruff1an insists to them that he's my
son. No. indeed, I'm not 1ok-
ing at all All right you may
laugh. but | 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? Oh, 1
wouldn't venture to say as to that!
I leave that to you! :. l know.
Yes. understand all that.
but wait-wait Just min
ute! Now you listen"
The Judge concentrated more 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-well. give you my word
that I'll do all | can to bring things
the way you want. i. Good!
Whatll you do with him?
Why, what In Sam Hill do care what
you do with him? Oh, but
say. Commissioner. yes. l do care,
too!"-a laugh here like jolly fiend
II shouldn't like for him to be put
away off In some nice, damp. dark cell
to cool off-he! hei he!-y'under-
stand?"
He got so mixed up in his chuckling
and coughing that he couldn't get out
another word for a moment. Then
"Oh. no! Certainly, not; nor one
too hot and airless. as you say-he!
he! hei And don't put him-don't put
him" the Judge was gasping for air
now-"don't put him on bread and wa
ter, or anything Of that kind. nor in n
cell with rude, rough men who would
tame his playful spirit-hei hei he,-
oh, don't do that! What say?
didn't quite catch" And then, dash
1t, it seemed he did catch 1t. 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! Eth? All right, tomorrow
then at one at the Lawyers Club
you can go over again the points oil
what you want with the mayor. Bye!
At last with good humor perfectly
restored. he faced me. wabbling like
jolly jellyfish.
IS greatest joke ever heard of ir
my life!" he chortled.
"oh, say. how did you find Jack?'
asked, for that was the thing / hac
begun to think of.
His face collapsed SO dashed sud
den, was afraid 1t would break. Ano
from being a peppery red. he changed
to a devilish sickly yellow.
Awful" he said Jerkily. Some
thing awful" And he groaned like 6
jolly horse in pain. Went up there
you know. but" his hands lifted anc
dropped; he shook his head-"didn''
seem to know me at all-was sitting
there in his paJamas examining with 6
magnifying glass some leaves he hac
pulled at the window. Seems obsessed
with some crazy patter of talk
couldn't understand-poor fellow!'
The Judge sighed. "Only thing he
seemed to want me to do for him was
to promise to wear his pajamas to
night-pajamas seem to be the focus
of his malady this time"
swallowed pretty hard and looked
81 promised" continued the Judge
gloomily. And I'll do it-oh. yes
anything to humor him! He's to put
them outside his door tonight-it's
his own whim. you know" He went
on moodily: He won't allow any
luncheon sent up; says If not toe
much trouble. would be grateful for
two and one-half ounces OF unleav
ened bread and clabber-what the
devils clabber?"
Luncheon is served" intoned a
human machine.
''Ah-h!" The judges tone evinced
satisfaction. MY dear Lightnut," his
hand upon my arm, do you know
look upon you as so nearly one OF
US"
Thank you, judge!" l said feeling
ly By Jove, 1t was devilish comfy to
have her father so jolly friendly about
It,
THAT I'm just going to ask you tn
excuse me from lunching with you
know you'll understand, my boy!-so
Internally busy, you see,"
l didn't see. though he had been
saying this all morning. But as he
seemed to think he was busy, wasn't
going to make any dashed break con-
tradicting him. you know. So l pre-