Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-02
The Daily
Short Story
BROUGHT HOME TO HIN.
By Ethel Holmes.


Judge Weatherly of the criminal
court having finished his days WORK
sat in his private Office smoking a Gig.
ar, as was his invariable custom after
holding court, when there was q ring
at the telephone. Taking up the re-
ceiver he recognized his wife's voice.
Come home at once. Something
has happened"
What has happened"
| ELLA has been arrested for theft"
Great heavens"
Without stopping for an explanation
the Judge hurried home, to find a Do
liceman awaiting his arrival. Mrs.
Weatherly was all of q tremor, while
Ella, the daughter. sat in . sort Of
stupOr.
What's this all about?" the Judge
demanded.
Your Honor" said the policeman,
"a watch has been missing from the
| jewelry store Of Larkins G. Swift. |
was ordered to come here and make
a search Of the room of the young
lady. l found the watch in one OF
her bureau drawers. Here it u.s."
The policeman produced q lady's
watch, its case studded with Jewels.
Why, that's one Of the watches"
he said. Il looked at In Larkins &
Swift's store not long ago, when was
hunting for birthday gift for Ella.
j was tempted to buy it, but the price
was very high and / bought one at
another store"
Likely you can explain the matter
to the court said the policeman.
Give me time to think" said Judge
Weatherly.
The policeman gave him the desired
time, but it awaited nothing; he was
as much in the dark at the end Of half
an hour as before A cabman was
called and the judge, his daughter and
the policeman. went to the station.
There the judge gave bail for the ac-
cused girl, and father and daughter
rode home.
That his daughter was guilty Of the
theft charge never entered the
judges mind. Some person or per-
sons had conspired to injure her or
more likely him. He was constantly
/ 1CCClvlu6 ILL Coto AAOA SA1AAAA0Ao AS
sentenced, but thus far none had mate
, rallied: He finally settled down to
the opinion that a hardened criminal
to whom he had given the extreme
penalty of the law and who had threat
ened to be even with him in time.
, had been the perpetrator of the out
rage.
That afternoon q message came to
, the judge that Mr.. Larkins Of Larkips
: & Swift, would like to see him at his
store. Judge Weatherly hurried to
the store and was invited into the
private Office of the head Of the f1rn
Mr.. Larkins then handed him . letter
. received during the day. 1t read:
Il see by the papers that daugh-
> ter of Judge Weather!y Of the criminal
court has been arrested for the theft
of your goods. This is the Judge, l
believe, who sentences people on
fimsy circumstantial evidence. No
long ago he sentenced Ralph Ed.
l monds to the penitentiary for 10 years
4 on the eve of his wedding. If Judge
l Weatherly will secure Edmonds' lib
erty the finding Of a watch In his
daughters possession will be ex-
planned"
0 The letter was typewriter and
without signature. At first thought
the Judge fancied it might be used as
evidence, to secure his daughters ac-
quittal, but it soon occurred to him
9 that in law it would not be received
: as testimony. Besides the judge
e wished his daughter exonerated, and
L he decided that full explanation
: could only be gained by acceding to
r the terms of the writer OF the letter
The attorney who had defended
Ralph Edmonds was notified by Judge
= Weatherly that he had grave doubts
: of the propriety Of his charge to the
9 Jury in the case of their client, and II
: they would move for a new trial the
i Judge would assist them to secure 1t
), and alter his charge.
n The attorneys took the hint and Ed
j. monds was brought into the court for
a new trial. He was fine looking
fellow with cOuntenance that no
r one would consider as belonging to
IS rogue, His mother was in court and
!. with her a young girl to whom the
IT prisoner was to have been married,
OuIy d SHUT llulC was AS4AAANN -
n the trial which consisted in the Judge
l. charge to the jury and was naturally
d an order for the jury to acquit the
IS prisoner. This they did without ieav-
re hing their seats.
r. The ACQUITTED man embraced his
l. mother after which he and his fiancee
were locked in each others arms.
Then the young lady went to the judge
al and said:
ID Il determined after the conviction
1T of nv betrothed, who l knew was IN
lg nocent as you doubtless knew your
Of daughter was innocent, to bring MS
Is Imprisonment home to you. l was
h present at his first trial and knew you
Id by sight. One day 1 saw you go into
w. jewelry store and look at some
/; watches. / stood at the same counter
'; and when the clerks back was turned.
lie purloined one you had examined. nse
" you or the clerk seen me l would
lg doubtless have joined Ralph in the
er penitentiary.
I'd The next move was to watch your
as house and one day when it was iei'
TT unprotected l entered it. found my
Id self in a room. l knew by the artl-
ne cles it contained TO be your daughter 5
ell l left the watch in her bureau drawer
e. Then l informed the police where 10
Or look for 1t. l also wrote the letter
10 the jeweler. Now that l have al
tained my object am ready 10 maks
K an affidavit to what ! have toic you
a. ---
rr ILLINOIS HUNTING LAWS.
re Springfield, Ill.-Boys who kill rap
ve tth ,,,,h Nv the Aid Of 4 dog