Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-03-04
JUDGE
{ By AUCHAnK HESTER


aN.N 4H. 4aaI
Entering the court house, ne found
himself in a narrow hall. He entered
the county clerks Office. He was al
ready known to this official, whose
name raj Saul, and he now greeted
him.
"a little matter OF business brings
me here, sir" began the judge, with
q swelling chest and mellow accents.
II am In some haste to look up a title
for my client. Mr.. Norton"
Mr.. Saul scrambled up out OF the
depths OF his chair and exerted him
self In the judges behalf.
'srhis is what you want. sir. Better
take the ledger to the window. the
light in here amt much" He drew
forward a chair as he spoke, and tho
Judge, seating himself, began to pol
fish his spectaclss with great delibera-
ton.
you've set on the bench, SRI" sug-
gested Mr.. Saul.
In ore OF the eastern counties, but
my inclination has never been toward
tho judiciary" He was turning the
leaves OF tho ledger as he spoke. Sud-
denly tho movement OF his hand was
arrested.
Found tt7' asked Mr.. Saul. But
the Judge gave him no answer; he
was atzrarg dcyTz at the open pages
~ the book. Found the entryf" re-
kpested Mr.. Saul.
'Eh-whats thatf Mo- he ap-
peared to hesitate. who is this man
QuintArd7"
Hes the owner OF q hundred-thou-
aand-acre tract In this and Rbutting
ccunties,' said Mr. Eaui.
WHO has charge Of the laudrs
Colonel Fortress: ho was old uen-
arxl Wares law partner I've heard II
was the general who got this man
Qnintard TO make the investment. but
that WAS before my time"
The Judge fapsed into silence.
4 step sounded Ia the narrow hall.
An instant later the door was pushed
open. and grateful for any INTERRUPT
ton that would serve 70 take Mr.
eaulsa attention from himself. the
3uAge abruptly turned his back on
thn clark nno-hexsu 70 sxa12ine u
A1Asensf6iy, how.
eye2s che oold. laval tones Of the voice
ss.ss y. addressing itself to III. Saul
Quickened the beat OF his pulse, tbs
thYOb a. Mis- hsaTt. and struck hack
through the years to q day from
which ~ ~rsGkonsd tina. He turned
alewly. - II IN dread.
What NJ nav was = man verging
o. sixty. isAn and dark. with thin.
nkAycn cheeks Of : blush cast Abova
uns jaw. ana : ssrcngiy aquiiins pro-
1le. Long, black locks swept the coli
lar III his coat, while his tail. spare
ngurs Va habitsd In sleek nroadcIoth
and apotless linen. For 4 moment tho
Judge seemed to struggle with doubt,
then his face went white and the book
slipped from his fingers to ths win
dow ledge.
Tho stranger, his business conclud-
Cd swung about on his heel and
Quilted the Office. Mr.. Saul. bending
above his desk, was making an entry
AL VaH Va Me AcAASAAs AAp aAu&0 hAuA
Ned to bis side,
who waa that mani" ne asked
thickly, resting a shaking hand on
the clerks arm.
'@Thatf--Oh. that was Colonel Fem
trass ! was Just telling you about"
be always lived Hsrs7
mo; he cano into the county about
ten years ago, and >hought q place
called The Oaks
HAS he's familyY" The Judge ap-
peared to be having difficulty with
his speech.
Not that anybody knows OF. Some
say he's q widower, others again say
he's an cid bachelor; but he don't
say nothing. The eolonel's got his
friends, to be sure. but he don't mix
nauch with the real quality. One OF
his particular !ntiH atss 10 o gentle
nan by the nams OF MurreII."
The Judge nodded.
i've met him. he said briefly.
Acting on @ sudden impulse, the
Judge muttered something about re-
turning later. and hastily quilted the
ONCE.
In the hall the judges steps dragged
and bis head was bowed. he was