Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1917-11-08

his clients--what few he had There
was something back of it. But what?
For 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 il 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 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,
I'll 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 tia 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 q glay-haired but vigorous old
gentleman, and, staring after them, he
shook his, fist at their backs menac-
ingly. ami !.
swell, John Summers" grated Judge
Bates Between his teeth, fer it was he
who had been watching the house OPP
posite for nearly an hour. $50 you're
jiltin' Ruth. teh?" He started to NUT
ter something else, when sudden res
olution seized him and he swung
across to the watched cottage and rang
the bell. n w
Judge s3Bates I" exclaimed Mrs.
Burns In surprise, as she opened the
door. .What brings you here?'
81 want to see young Summers" he
answered, jumping at an excuse.
"Why, you just missed him." an
swered the woman; she 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. 10.
"Can-I-er would you.', he stam-s
mered confusedly, SHOW me. his ro2n2
I-er-Td like to see how, the young
man is fxed..' .!s f,g5
"Why-no!'' answered the surprised
Mrs. Burns, taken aback at the un-
usual request. "This way, judge"
Judge Bates prowled about John
| Summers room, and several times
paused and took various photos in his
-luSlt cCG WllAA0uIt
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 a grim set to his lips, aas he
ambled back toward the courthouse
1t was early morning, three days
later, as Judge Bates sat across his
desk from John Summers. For several
seconds he mad stared at the young
man silently, then he broke into
speech.
YOU'RE a funny mixture, Summers"
he was saying. YOU'RE "a whopping
big fool, and a durn fine man. / kinda
reckoned you was a bit proud. But,
! TIL fool part Of it is-stoppin' spealsin'
to girl jes' cause she's got money an
fyou haven't. Hang it, boy, haven't you
ward? D'yeiexpect t sbe poor all your
life? Y got tn counselorship fer tn
| plow works over t. Grandin. An you're
| TIL lawyer for theitwo Smith old maids.
| You're gettiH on. What's the matter
with you?"aiss =.
"But haven't as much as Ruth has,
! judge" 'stubbornly persisted the young
| lawyer. "And don't want her for her
money" fYige6
Stop ~ numbered the judge, bring
| ing his fist down upon the desk. "Stop
before Ibefore this court loses it's
temper. Now, see here, you proud
| young fool, God bless you. I'm truss
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 younger man. The.
law allows Z per cent commission on
! 1.-THE estate. That, with what you've got
now, will be as much as Ruth's got.
| Dye see?"
Eyes, but John started to pro-
4 test. but again the Judge exnlOlel