The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1917-11-01

his cllenIS-WnaC Few ne nad Ihere
! was something back Of it. But what7
| For a few moments he shut his eyes,
and it seemed to her that he had
! drowsed off again. The old clock on
the wall licked away the minutes and
she was getting Impatient bit an
gry-for it seemed as if her fathers
friend had deserted her in her hour
Of extremity, when his eyes opened
and he brought his fist down on the
desk heavily, jolting a few papers to-
! the floor.
"See here" he told her, "you leave
this to me. I'll tend to it,
"But, judge" she demurred, gently,
81 have no right to trouble you--
about that. YOU
"Never mind!" he interrupted, run
ming his hand contentedly over his
broad, bald pate. "Jes' leave it to me.
Us old fellers don't have much fun
these days. Nothin' new to interest
US. This here business will give me
| something new to think, about. Now,
you jes' run along, and come back
here-let's sea week from today.
that's it-a week from today"
And he settled back again in his
chair and seemed to be browsing. She
started to speak, then checked herself,
and, looking at him doubtfully, half
lovingly, she tiptoed from the room
and closed the door. ~.
A clean-limbed young man, with
girl at his side, emerged from the
Burns cottage laughing merrily. They
swung down the village street in step,
he carrying suitcase, and she large
box. On the opposite side, from be-
hind the wide trunk of an oak, there
stepped a gray-haired but vigorous old
gentleman, and, staring after them, he
shook his fist at their backs menac-
| ingly. ~.
"Well, John Summers grated Judge
Bates between his teeth, for it was he
\ who had been watching the house op-
posite for nearly an hour. $50 you're
jiltin' Ruth, eh?" He started to NUT
ter something else, when a sudden res
| olution seized him and he swung
across to the watched cottage and rang
the bell. !
"Judge Bates!" exclaimed Mrs.
Burns in surprise, as she opened the
door. "What brings you here?"
II want to see young Summers" he
answered, jumping at an excuse.
| "Why, you just missed him." an
swered the woman; ''he and Katherine
just left. She's going back to the city
for six weeks. He's taking her to the
station. You see, Kits going to marry
Johns brother. He works up in the
city. Wanted her to come up and help
pick out the furniture.''
Judge Bates stood and gasped.' She
stared at him in amazement, and he
caught her stare and brought himself
back to earth with bump.
! "Can-I-er-would you," he STAN
mered confusedly, "show me his room?
Eer-Td like to see how the young
man is fxed.'
"Why-no!" answered the surprised
Mrs. Burns, taken aback at the un-
usual request ''This way, judge"
Judge Bates prow1ed about John
Summers room, and several times
| pduoCu uAu LOOh SnA1OuS TAOCOo III 4AAS
hand, then set them down without COM
ment. Five minutes later he left the
house, but a humorous twinkle had set
in the corners of his keen old eyes and
there was grim set to his lips, as he
ambled back toward the courthouse.
It was early morning, three days
later, as Judge Bates sat across his
desk from John Summers. For several
seconds he had stared at the young
man silently, then he broke into
speech.
''You're funny mixture, Summers"
he was saying "You're a whopping
big fool, and a durn fine man. T kinda
reckoned you was bit proud. But
tn fool part of it is-stoppin' speakin'
to girl jes' cause she's got money an
you haven't. Hang it, boy, haven't you
got gumption enough to be, lookin' for
ward? Dye expect t. be poor all your
life? Y got tn counselorship fer tn
pillow works over t. Grandin. An you're
tn lawyer for the two Smith old maids.
You're gettin' on. What's the matter
with your
'But haven't as much as Ruth has,
judge" stubbornly persisted the young
lawyer. "And I don't want her for her
money"
''Stop!" Numbered the judge, bring
ing his fist down upon the desk. "Stop
before I-before this court loses it's
temper. Now, see here, you proud
young fool, God bless you. I'm trus-
tee for Ruth's money and her two
brothers and sister, besides. Now I'm
getting too old for that job. It's about
time it went to a younger man. The
law allows z per cent commission on
the estate. That, with what you've got
now, will be as much as Ruth's got.
Dye see?" r.
eyes, but" John started to pro-
test, but again the judge exploded.
mo buts," he snapped; "you're APP
pointed trustee for the Marston estate
Ito take effect at once. lists an
order Of this court. And what's more