Putnam patriot., 1912-05-31

du1 AStASA <NS NIT. Wesley sometimes caneeied as many as three or four stamps in a single day he might have been par doned his pride in a brain which thus lightly dealt with the burden of ofii- eial business. He surrendered the letter with marked reluctance.
 Your surmise is correct" said the judge with dignity. T had occasion to write my friend, General Jackson, and unless I am greatly mistaken l have my answer here" And with fine air of indifference he tossed the letter on the table.
 And do you know Old Hickory" cried Mir. Wesley.
 Why not? Does 1t surprise you?" E inquired the judge. It was only his innate courtesy which restrained him from kicking the postmaster into the street, so intense was his desire to bs rid of him.
 No. I don't know as 1t does. judge. Naturally 6 public man like him is in the way of meeting with all sorts. A politician can't afford to be too blame particular. We'll, next time you write you might just send him my regards c. W. NJ. de L. Wesley's regards there was considerable contention over my getting this office; I reckon he ain't forgot. There was speeches made, I 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 more or less national character, Mir. Wesley took himself of.
 When he had disappeared from sight down the street, the judge closed the door Then he picked up the let ter. For a 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 a handsome soldierly tigure-his own.
 That's what Jackson remembers if he remembers anything." he nut tered. as with trembling fingers he broke the seal. Almost instantly a smile oyerspread his battered fea- tures He hitched his chin higher and squared his ponderous shoulders. T am not forgotten-no, damn it-no" he exulted under his breath. Recalls me with sincere esteem and consid- CTS my services to the country as well worthy of recognition" the judge breathed deep. What would Mahatfy find to say nowi Certainly this was well calculated to disturb the sour cynicism of his friend. His bleared eyes brimmed. After all his groping he had touched hands with the reali- ties at last! Even federal judgeship. though not an office of first repute in the south. had It's dignity-it signified something! He would make Solomon his clerk! The judge reached for his hat. Mahafy 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. It was singular feeling he experienced. Then promptly his spendthrift brain became active. lie needed clothes-so did Mahany-so did his grandson; they must take a larger house; he would buy himself a man servant; these were pressing ne cessities as he now viewed them. Once again he reached for his hat; i; the desire to rush of to Belle Plain was overmastering.
 T reckon I'd be justified In hiring a conveyance from Pegloe," he thought, but just here he had say ing memory of his unfinished task i; that claimed precedence and he re- sumed 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 most tenn perate use of the tavern-keeper's of fering; then as the formidable docu- ment he was preparing took shape un- der his hand he more and more lost that feeling of Spartan fortitude which had at first sustained him in the presence of temptation. He wrote and slipped in complete and quiet lux ury, and when at last he had exhaust ed the contents of the bottle it oc' cured to him that 1t would be only proper personally to convey his thanks to Pegloe. Perhaps he was not un- inspired in this by ulterior hopes; fl so, they were richly rewarded. The resources of the City Tavern were suddenly placed at his disposal. He attributed this to variety of causes all good and sufficient, but the real reason never suggested itself; indeed it was of such pertidious nature that the judge, open and 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, ing 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 bed, and the tavern-keep- CT, making bundle of his clothes, re. tired from the room, locking the door after him, and the judge was doubiy a prisoner.
 Housing at last from a heavy. dreamless sleep the judge was aware of faint impalpable light in his room. the ashen light of dull October dawn.