The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-10-04
INTO AR.~..S CT LAW
BY J. A. FFANY.


to state before made as nuch IS
policeman earns.
But, row, had been fortunate
enough to secure the appointment o.
municipal court judge.
This had been my first day Of office
and there had not been single CASE
for trial. 1t locked as II my expert
ence ss a private practitioner was te
be repeated In my offiial capacity
Even the law.breakers and litigants
stunned me.
! was aroused from my meditationi
by the sound of footsteps.
In few moments a mans figure
appeared in the open doorway. He wal
Enthusiastically from the country.
A clumsy. ungainly man, apparent
~ about forty.five years Of age. be
advanced toward my desk with
stealthy, nervous step. The fellow
had hunted look.
Say, mister" he said, In . whis
per. what will you charge TO get me
off,"
"Off WHAT" asked.
"Well. don't want to tell, but
suppose I shall have to; It's all over
town. Please don't let them take me
to jail, mister"
whats the trouble! What have
you done?" I asked the fellow. but.
l may as well warn you. before you
60 any further" added, remembering
my new appointment. that am q
fudge. as we'll as lawyer"
"You judge" the yokel exclaimed.
In a tone OF horror. "Oh, gosh I've
run right into the arms OF the law,
when was trying my best to escape.
Please, sir, don't send me to JAIL"
the fellow whined.
III you are in need OF professional
advice. think YOU had better 60 to
another law office, and not tell me
anything about your troubles" | said.
i can't send you to Jail until you are
brought before me in the ordinary
course Of justice"
But, don't want to 20 to jail at
all, judge. l didn't think they would
hold it against me all these years. |
haven't been in the city in thirty
years. and if you'll only let me go
'Nis time I'll promise never to come
here again"
Now, see here, my man." said
sharply, for the fellow was becoming
tedious, IF you have anything to say
to me. I will listen to it, and treat
it conlidentially, so far as can. Either
tel me your troubles, or 20 and tell
them to some other lawyer"
NO." said the man. desperately.
I'll make a clean breast of it to YOU.
Judge. You see, mister, when | was a
boy-thirty years ago-I came to the
city one day, in my fathers slciah;
and while the old man was around
town doing his business, | played
about the stable where he put M his
horse. There was lot OF snow Oh
the ground, and some of the city bows
began calling me hayseed, and pcit.
ing me with snowballs. | didn't like
it--not so much the snowbaling as
their calling me haysced. So l
made some srowballs myself and
SHE'D back at them. Well, just as |
was throwing good hard bali at one
OF the boys. a policeman came round
the corner, and it knocked off his hit.
started and ran as hard as | could.
never stopped till l got to my faith.
ers farm away out in the country
ten miles from here. laid awake all
that night, expecting that they would
be coming for me; and I've been ex.
pecting them ever since. But, az
bad not heard of it in all these years.
| plucked up courage and came in
today, thinking 1t had all blown over
But l see that was mistaken. they're
after me-"
What makes you think they are
after your" Iasked the fellow.
There's notices all over the city,
the man whined.
What kind OF notices?" / asked
u haven't seen anything Of them"
why. one says. Bill posters be.
ware. and another. Bill posters will
be prosecuted"
whats your name!" asked. 40 q
light seemed to break In on me In all
this nonsensical tragedy.
Posters" the man replied. "wil.
liam Posters. But they generally call
me Bill-Bill Posters"
"Ah, see," I said. with a sigh Of
relief. "And you want to settle this
Quietly-without any exposure?"
We'll. this is a case, l am afraid.
that can't be settled with q fine," /
said. rising and confronting the VII.
lain. who shrank from me, and COW.
cred near the door.
you won't send me to Jail. tudgef'.
be pleaded.
mo, we'll settle 1t without that" I
said. Gust turn round"
As Mr.. Posters turned his back on
me. l gave him good, hearty kick.
that sent him clear through the door
way.
rs that all?" he asked, with a blu.
rolic smile.
"Ycs, that's all--for the present."
replied. Tat, il you ever come
near this Office c=ain, I'll give YOU a
rood deal i.er -i,sr .ha, NJ, -,