The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-09
Judge Hoke 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. IT
was noticed that Judge HOke had put
on clean collar and a new necktie
and assumed a new dignity. When the
court was called to order he quietly
said:
81 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 'Hells 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
Standings than town Of five times
its size. They have given us such a
black eye that the stage drivers have
to have So extra every time they pass
through.
"These things have come to the gov
errors ears and also to the ears of the
high courts. AS a consequence I have
been ordered to institute a great moral
reform. According to our own ideas,
we were living life of happiness and
bliss here. No one made us afraid.
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.
II must obey the mandates of those
higher up, and shall obey them even
If 1t 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 a
bad man. You have shot three men in
the last month, and you have filed the
hearts of thirty more with terror. We
intended to drive you out of Sandy
, Bend in a week or two more, but you
must go now, and don't DE five min
J 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 a
breath Of relief as he passed out. Then
the court turned to one Of the girls
present, nicknamed Mollie Bawn, and
r said
{ katie Simmons, you are another
| bright star, but we don't want you
l here. Two or three men have been
t killed out of jealousy because you smil-
, ed on the wrong one. Get your smile
all packed up and ready to take the
l stage Remember, Sandy Bend is to
+ know you and your smile no more.
Women in this place must not be the
J. cause of duels."
+ His honor looked hard at Mountain
J, Pete and said:
s pete, we have heard enough of your
t hot air around these parts, and we
want no more Of it. You haven't q
l. good word for anything. You have nc
l. cayuse to ride, but you brag about your
t walking. Get through that door and
commence to walk and don't stop for a
It week or two. We shall miss your ba.
/. zoo for some days to come, but re-
form Is a broom which sweeps clean.
Is "Widder Scott, you pretend to be
married to Big Frank. but this court
I. does not believe you are, and there are
t. others who are just as sure that you
@ are not. Both Of you come right ur
l. here and we will settle that question
II I'll tie the knot right here where all
1t can see and know"
10 IN be hanged If l marry herp'
growled Frank.
10 Then you slide with the other slid.
;" ers!' commanded the court. "If any
J. or the boys want kick at you to heir
+ the cause of reform they can take II
out at the door. 1t is such a man as
O. you that has brought this town low
10 Widder Scott, will give you an hour
IN TO look around to find q man who is
"A willing to take care of you. If yor
ind one, all right; If you don't. you'll
- take little journey.
=. Jim Howson, you are proprietor OF
the Golden Angel dance hall. 1 was
-. counting up the number of shootinps
" In your place in the last three months
=, and they average one for every two
- nights. Fights and robberies TAX,
T. place there every night, and you have
- three or four games going which arc
~ cheats and frauds. No town can re
: form with such place running wild,
7, open. 1t will be hard blow to on,
nc town, but you have got to close u,
and put paddock on the front door
lie You may hang out banner of mourn
~ Ing, but you have got to buy that pad
n. lock before noon.
And here Is Yellow Sam ond c,,x,