Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1917-11-15
By Order Of
Court
By Afchey Cameron New

::,~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ -. 4.
| Copyright. 1917, by the Mcclure Nswspa-
per Syndicate.)
Sleepy desolatlon settled mope thick
| ly ON the courthouse square at placid
| Euclid Corners as the mercury stead
| lily rose In the tube and the county
seat sizZled under the fierce summer
| heat. Bven the few horses hitched out
side the general store while their mas
| tiers dawdled on the steps with old Zeb
Marks, were too lazy TO brush aside
the flies that swarmed about their
sweaty TANKS.
! In the old courthouse across the
square the county clerk and his single
ss'stant, perched upon their high
wooden stools, scrawling at the docket,
bemoaned the fate that kept them
there while the summer recess Afford
ed some of their more fortunate breth-
rem chance to get away to cooler
! climes. But off in one corner of the
old gray building, In q small chamber
rather lmperfectly cooled by large
electric fan, lounged one individual
I who seemed to care not whether the
rest Of the world was sizzling. For be-
hind desk, heaped high with law
books, stenoGrapheSs' copies, blue
prints and papers OF every description,
| his feet encased in large, roomy gal
/ tiers, and resting on the desk before
/ him, huge SILK "kerchief" wrapped
about his seamy neck and an old green
eyeshade perched atop his broad, hui
morous nose old Judge Bates sat
drowsily staring at the printed page
/ before him, his thoughts afar Off.
! And into his musings, as II it were
/ a dream, there stole the SQUADS Of
/ the rustic of woman's dress, and sud
denly he turned his head toward the
! haf-opened door, and brought his feet
abruptly to the floor For young, de-
liciously cool little appnrition In a thin
blue frock, revealing n white, rounded
throat and slender, graceful figure
from the top of her glorious golden
head to the tip of her tiny slippers,
| advanced toward him, Il troubled look
in her big blue eyes.
"Well, bless my soul !" exclaimed the
Judge, kindly, rising and extending his
horny brown paw and grasplng her
slim white hand cordially; little Ruth
Marston. What brings you in town
| today?"
"T-eame-for advice" faltered the
! girl nervously.
'Well this Is the place." said the
other. smillngly. "Here-sit down.
And he graciously brushed the dust
from an old armchair and beckoned
the orphaned daughter of his old law
partner to be seated. what is the
| trouble7"
She regarded him a moment In
doubt, then plunged ahead.
'I-er-if-er," she stammered, and
he leaned forward and patted her hand
| reassuringly.
"Go ahead" he urged, in kindly
tone Don't be afraid, Ruth. You're
Just like my own daughter. Is tier
a love AFFAIR.""
She stared and looked into his keen
eyes before replying.
"Y-yes," she admitted, blushing fu-
rIously. 'T-wanted to know If l could
that is, can a young mango back
on you whenever he wants to-"
The old Judge whistled.
$50" he exclaimed. as that it7
Who's the Teller? Is he-all right,
Ruth?"
Ell don't know as l ought 10 tell
YOU" she continued, but l thought
maybe l could sue him for breach OF
promise"
"What!" almost yelled the judge.
"a daughter of Sam Marston suing a
man for breach Of promise? Never.
Ny dear girl, where's your pride' The
idea :"
She dropped her eyes and blushed
more furlously than ever.
"Wen, | thought" she started. then
breaking into tears, she cried, through
clenched hands, "but, judge, l love him
So Aud do want him. He's so fine,
so noble. And maybe It's my fault.
| He"
The Judge. who was gazing at her
sympathetlcally, felt wave of pater-
nal interest surge through him, rs he
reached forward again and patted her
arm.
Come, come" he soothed her.
"Bracc up and tell me all about It..
Breach Of promise suits never bring
EN- back Maybe there's another way.
Tell me, who's the man? And what's
the trouble?"
y Its John Summers" she answered
brokenly and the judge jumped again.
''Not that young Teller that's prac-
ticing law over IN way?" demanded
the judge, intredulously. "What,
Well soc here hes nice boy. Tell
me the rest"
'Well" she continued, che was go
Inc with me until papa died. Then he
started to grow cold He stopped com.
Ing TO the house except once In n
while. and then he didn't come at all.