Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-26
THE BLACKSMITH JUDGE.


II was twilight From the door Of the
blacksmith shop came the rlddy glow OF
the forge. And on the still air rang the
clang clang of the anvil.
Come to supper, Andrew said o
sharp voice calling trlm the house at the
rear of the shop. Hurry, the cakes are
hot and | wish To 20 10 the store.
II cannot come now, wife, shouted
back the smith, Il am busy.
"You stupid" cried the woman ap-
pearinp in the door with an angry face
''Come at once. You are just gossiping
about the mayor and such things which do
not concern such fools rs YOU.
well. wife" said the smith, calmly,
maybe am not such a fool rs YOU think.
And really believe on some bright day
Won will change your opinion.
"Ohr rctortcd the wife, YOU never
had any sense and never will | have po
doubt Won think you could he the Judge IN
His Majosiy's court tomorrow.
Indeed, | think | COULD try tho case
very we'll laughed the good natnred
smith And # II were left 10 me, feel
sure | could find the thief who stole the
bogs of gold from the TREASURY
Now. IT happened that the k,ng hun
self, disg,liscd rs n poor lnborer IN tho
fields. was nj thut moment resting ~ the
smith shop He often took this way Ia
Soc what was going on IN his couptry ana
what the people really thought oi hls rule
Rc,ng n KIND man nnd liking adventure
these trlts pleased him Immensely To
dav he listened with great interest To the
talk between the smith and his wife.
Il will get tins smith 10 try the case Tor
me. the King said to himself and mo-
doubt there will he some good reasons III
hls judgment
ate that night the King got back 10 hIs
rovaI castle and an hour later he sent ont
guards Ia bring the blacksmith to hun. ~
dawn the soldiers knocked ri the smith $
door Open, they sad, IN the name oi
the king
Then they. without telling what they
wanted. tnok hun away. while tho wife re
manned hchlnd weeping because she
Thought some silly trick of her husband
had pot them into the trouble " th'
castle the smith was told that be must ar'
as nudge IN the case which was 10 be trtet
Tint dav the trtnl of five men who were
accused of breaking into the Ning
| treasury and stealing . hag ct gold
4 heard your conversation with yon'
| wife Yesterday, said the King with Z
| smile And now. rs you said yoil rauia
/ find the thief, do So. II you succeed ne
] lonocr will YOU lc a smith hnt ST rs
i judpc m my court
At noon 1--WE mon We're standing heter'
! the smith who was rohed rs Judge y
/ gown and Wig The smith had his plans 81
/ laid
Place on each of tho tive men q wblt'
coat. he sald 10 guard then put then
IN a cell for half an hour Before yuu loci
| the door give each drunk at tins blacl
draupht | have IN tins cup |; Is naelea
N It's effect II will show NJ the guilty
ono The innocent need have no fear liu
on tho back 81 the coat u the man who til,
the stealing will appear cross N rel
Tn, mon were AL put IN the cell f.
hall an hour. and then brought hack mt
the court
Turn around sud the smth Their
on tho back of the taIlcsi was hlg dirt
smudvc where the MAJ had pressed hiu
self ~ hard against the well The ma
was pale and sh,vcrcd with fear
That man whose coai Is dirty Is th
thici thundcred the smiih He Ia
shown hy pressing his back up agaius
tho wall hat lie feared the black draugf
would bring out on hun the rcd cross as
sign 81 his crime That draught wa
nothng but llcorce water The ntht
four men, knowing their innocence. dl
nothing and knew thcv had nothing I
fear or to conceal 80 thcv snt still An
did not try to hide thcir backs against
dirty wall
The man with the dirty coat fell on h
knees and confessed his theft
Well done. laughed the King rs Il
court was dismissed You have show
admirable sense and will make FL
nudge appoint YOU to act IN my hlghe.
court Send for your wife, hut tell her
she continues 70 question Your wisdom 81
Will have To leave my domains