The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-12-11
By Order of
Court
By Archey Cameron New

s: 81
s~N~~~~~~~~~~
Copyright, 1917. by the Mcclure Nswspa-
per Syndicate.)
Sleepy desolation settled more 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. Even 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
assistant, 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 a chance to get away to cooler
climes. But off in one corner of the
old gray building, In a small chamber,
rather imperfectly cooled by a large
electric fan, lounged one individual
who seemed to care not whether the
rest of the world was sizzling. For be-
hind desk, heaped high with law
books, stenographers' copies, blue
prints and papers of every description,
his feet encased in large. roomy gai-
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, hu-
morous nose, old Judge Bates sat
drowsily staring at the printed page
before him, his thoughts afar off.
And into his musings, as II 1t were
dream, there stole the sounds Of
the rustic of a woman's dress, and sud-
denly he turned his head toward the
half-opened door, and brought his feet
abruptly to the floor. For young, de-
liciously cool little apparition In thin
blue frock, revealing 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, troubled look
in her big blue eyes.
swell, bless my soul |" exclaimed the
judge, kindly, rising and extending his
horny brown paw and grasping her
slim white hand cordially; little Ruth
Marston. What brings you in town
todayT
"I-came-for advice" faltered the
girl nervously.
swell, this is the place." said the
other, smilingly. "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
trouble"
She REGARDED him a moment In
doubt, then plunged ahead.
T-er-if-er," she stammered, and
he leaned forward and patted her hand
reassuringly.
"Go ahead" he urged in a kindly
tone. Don't be afraid, Ruth. You're
Just ike my own daughter. Is ter
a love AFFAIR.""
She stared and looked into his keen
eyes before replying.
"Y-yes," she admitted, blushing fu-
riously. "I-wanted to know If could
that is. can a young mango back
on you whenever he wants tor"
The old judge whistled.
$50" he exclaimed. SIS that it,
Who's the feller7 Is he-all right,
Ruthf"
Ell don't know as / ought to tell
you," she continued. "but I thought
maybe I could sue him for breach of
promise"
what" almost yelled the judge.
"a daughter Of Sam Marston suing a
man for breach Of promise2 Never.
My dear girl, where's your pride? The
idea r.
She dropped her eyes and blushed
more furiously than ever.
swell, thought" she started, then
breaking into tears, she cried, through
clenched hands, ''but, judge, love him
sol And do want him. He's so fine,
so noble. And maybe it's my fault.
He"
The judge, who was gazing at her
alphabetically, felt wave of pater-
nal interest surge through him, as he
reached forward again and patted her
arm.
"Come, come" he soothed her.
brace up and tell me all about 1t.
| nraa oh 20 y1ropoica culkc oo,1o, b.t~-
'em back. Maybe there's another way.
Tell me, who's the mani And what's
the trouble?"
tits John Summers" she answered
brokenly, and the Judge jumped again.
mot that young Teller that's prac-
ticing law over tn way" demanded
the judge, incredulously. "What
Well, see here, he's a nice boy. Tell
me the rest"
"Well," she continued, "he was go
ing. with me until papa died. Then he
started to grow cold. He stopped GEN.
Ing to the house, except once In a
while, and then he didn't come at all.
And-and now he's going with the girl
next to us. They moved here from the
city six months ago, and he's boarding
at her house. They're always together.
What can do7"
The judge bit an end off his plug of
tobacco and settled back in his chair
to think. Young John Summers
Why, he was one of the brightest and
finest young men that practiced before
him. Upright, honorable, always cour-
teous to the court and considerable to
his clients-what few he hadl Their,
was something back of it. But what
For a few moments he shut his eyes
and 1t seemed to her that he hat
drOwsed off again. The old clock oil
the wall licked away the minutes anC
she was getting impatient-a bit an
| gry-fOr 1t seemed as If her father
friend had deserted her in her houl
Of extremity, when his eyes opened
and he brought his fist down on thu
desk heavily, jolting a few papers t
the floor.
"See here" he told her, you leav'
this to me. I'll tend to IT."
but, judge" she demurred, gently
IL have no right to trouble you
about that. You"
"Never mindI" he interrupted, run
ming his hand contentedly over hi!
broad, bald pate. "Jes' leave 1t to me
Us old fellers don't have much fur
these days. Nothin' new to interes
US. This here business will give ms
something new to think about. Now
you jes' run along, and come bacl
here-let's sea week from today
that's it-a week from today"
And he settled back again in hi