The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-25
Judge oke Worksa
Great Moral Reform
By M. QUAD
Copyright, 1916, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.

All Sandy Bend knew that something
was doing They couldn't help but
know, for about half the town had
been summoned into court, and great
was the wonder thereat When the!
court opened there was hardly stand
ing room for all, and the dogs and the
Cinnamon were hustled out to make
those remaining more comfortable. II
was noticed that Judge Hoke had put
on a clean collar and new necktle
and assumed new dignity. When the
court was called to order he quietly
said:
II presume this action of mine has
taken most Of you by surprise and you
are prepared to hear something drop.
Such of you as read the papers have
within the last two years read that
Sandy Bend is considered the hardest
place in the state. One of the pet
names for it is 'Hell's Kitchen The
papers say that human life is not safe
here any hour in the twenty-four.
They say that no minister of the Cos
pei has dared to set foot in this town
in the past three years. They go on to
say that we have more shootings and
stabbings than a town of five times
it's size. They have given us such
black eye that the stage drivers have
to have S. extra every time they pass
through.
These things have come to the gov
ernor's ears and also to the ears of the
high courts. AS consequence l have
been ordered to institute great moral
reform. According to our own ideas,
we were living life of happiness and
We were untainted by civilization. We
thought we were doing just the right
thing, but the outside world differed
with us. 1t even found fault with the
dignity of this court.
81 must obey the mandates of those
higher up, and l shall obey them even
if it brings sorrow and grief to all our
hearts and brings Sandy Bend to wreck
and ruin and the sagebrush to grow
where now stands palatial poker
room. Volcano Charlie, you are the
first victim. You are what they call
bad man. You have shot three men in
the last month, and you have filled the
hearts Of thirty more with terror. We
intended to drive you out Of Sandy
Bend in week or two more, but you
must go now, and don't DE FIVE min
utes mounting your cayuse and fleeing
far away. don't want word Of back
talk from you. Slide right out"
The Volcano slid, and he drew
breath Of relief as he passed out. Then
the court turned to one of the girls
present nicknamed Mollie Bawn, and
said.
Katie Simmons, you are another
bright star. but we don't want you
here. Two or three men have been
killed out of jealousy because you smil-
ed on the wrong one. Get your smile
all packed up and ready to take the
stage. Remember, Sandy Bend is to
know you and your smile no more.
Women in this place must not be the
cause of duels."
His honor looked hard at Mountain
Pete and said:
Pete. we have heard enough of your
hot air around these parts, and we
want no more of it. You haven't a
good word for anything. You have no
cayuse to ride, but you brag about your
walking. Get through that door and
commence to walk and don't stop for a
week or two. We shall miss your ba-
zoo for some days to come, but re-
form is a broom which sweeps clean.
'Widder Scott you pretend to be
married to Big Frank, but this court
does not believe you are, and there are
others who are just as sure that you
are not Both of you come right up
here and we will settle that question
I'll tie the knot right here where all
can see and know"
III be hanged if | marry herr
growled Frank.
Then you slide with the other slid
ers!' commanded the court IF any
of the boys want a kick at you to help
the cause of reform they can take it
out at the door. 1t is such a man as
you that has brought this town low.
! Widder Scott, | will give you an hour
to look around to find a man who is
willing to take care of you. If YOU
! find one, all right; if you don't, you'll
! take a little journey.
/ Jim Howson, you are proprietor of
! the Golden Angel dance hall | was
, couating up the number of shootincs
! in your place in the last three months.
| and they average one for every two
j nights. Fights and robberies take
/ place there every night and you have
! three or four games going which are
cheats and frauds No town can re-
| form with such a place running wide
open. 1t will be a hard blow to our
town, but you have got TO close up
and put a paddock on the front door.
You may hang out banner of mourn
ing, but you have got to buy that pad
lock before noon.
And here is Yellow Sam and Slim
perry Sarah crowding to the front to
get married. and here is another cou-
pie and another and another. | will
say the ceremony for one and it will