The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-08
EVENING STORY
BY Order of Court.
By Archey Cameron New.

BY Order of Court.
(By Archey Cameron New.)
Sleepy desolation settled more thick
ly on the courthouse square at placid
Euclid Corners as the mercury steadily
rose in the tube and the county seat
sizzled under the fierce summer heat
Even the few horses, hitched outside
the general store while their masters
dawdled on the steps with old Zeb
Marks, were too lazy to brush aside
the flies that swarmed about their
sweaty flanks.
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
chimes But off in one corner OF the
old gray building, in a small chamber
rather imperfectly cooled by large
electric fan, lounged one individual
who seemed to care not whether the
| rest of the world was sizzling. For be-
hind a desk, heaped high with law
books, stenographers copies, blue
prints and papers of every sort and
| description, his feet encaSed in large,
| roomy CATERS, and resting on the desk
| before him, huge silk kerchief wrap
ped about his seamy neck and an old
green eyeshade perched atop his
broad, humorous nose, old Judge Bates
sat drowsily staring at the printed
page before him, his thoughts afar off,
And into his musings, as If IL were a
dream, there stole the SOUNDS or the
rustic of a woman's dress, and sudden
lily he turned his head toward the half
opened door, and brought his feet
abruptly to the floor. For young,
Ideliciously cool little apparition in a
thin blue frock. revealing white.
rounded throat and a slender, graceful
figure from the top of her glorious
golden head to the tip of her tiny
slippers, advanced toward him, a trou-
/ bled look in her big blue eyes.
We'll, bless my souli' exclaimed the
judge, kindly, rising and extending MS
horny brown paw and grasping her
slim white hand cordially; little Ruth
Marston. What brings you in town to-
day?'
-came-for advice" faltered the
girl, nervously.
well. this is the place." said the
other, smilingly. "Here-sit down.
And he graciously brushed the dust
from an old armchair and beckoneo
the orphaned daugher of his old law
partner to be seated. What is the
trouble?'
She regarded him moment ii
doubt, then plunged ahead.
"Ter-if-er,'' she stammered
and he leaned forward and patted hel
| hand reaSSur1ngly.
Go ahead" he urged, in a kindly
tone. Don't be afraid, Ruth. You're
just like my own daughter. Is it
} era love affair? %
She started and looked into his keeI
eyes before. replying;
Yves" she admitted. blushins
furiously. II wanted to know if
could--that is. can a young man-gt
back on you whenever he wants to 2
The old judge whistled.
So he exclaimed ''Is that it
Who's the Teller? Is he-al right
Ruth?'
II don't know as 1 ought to tel
you" she continued, but 1 though
maybe 1 could sue him for breach o
promise"
"What!' almost yelled the judge
"A daughter of Sam Marston suing {
man for breach of promise? Never
= My dear girl, where's YOUR pride? TIL,
ideal"
She dropped her eyes and blushec
more furiously than ever.
well, I thought she started
) then bursting into tears. she cried
thru clenched hands but, judge,
love him SO. And 1 do want him
He's so fine, so noble. And mayb,
it's my fault. He
The judge, who was gazing at hel
sympathetically. felt a wave of pater-
nal interest suSge thru him, as h.
reached forward again and patted hel
arm
Come. COME he soothed her
Brace up and tell me all about it
Breach of promise suits never brint
'em back. Maybe there's another
way. Tell me, who's the man? Ant
what's the trouble?"
IT'S John Summers" she answered
! brokenly, and the judge jumped again
Not that young Teller that's prac
ticing law over tn way?'' demandef
the judge. incredulously. and as sh.
nodded dumbly, he added what
Well! See here, he's a nice boy Tel
me the rest
Well she continued, The was go
ing with me until papa died The,
he started to grow cold He stopped
coming to the house. except once in :
while, and then he didn't come at all
And-and now he's going with the cir
next to us. They rloN ed here from
the city six months ago. and hei
boarding at her house. They're al
ways together. What can / do?"
The judge bit an end off his plug o
tobacco and settled back in his chail
to think Young John Summers
Why. he was one of the brightest ant
| nneSt young men that practiced befor,
him. Upright, honorable, Away,
courteous to the court and consid err
ate to lis clients-what few he had
There was something back of it. Blu
what? For few moments he shu
his eyes, and it seemed to her thaf
he had drowsed off again. The ole
clock licked away the minutes and
she was getting IMPATIENT bit an.
gry-for it seemed as if her father.
N friend had deserted her in her hour o.
extremity. when his eyes opened, anc
he brought his fist down on the desl
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