Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-02-06
Hypnotizing the
Judge
BY GRACE WEATHERBY
copyright, 1918, by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate)

JUDGE pay for the curtalns" The ex-
cited voice of Merrie Crayton rose
above the buzz IN the wide hall of the
Crayton home. Merrle, the only and
well-beloved daughter OF Colonel Cray
ton, was a beautiful girl Of twenty
summers, whose CHEEKY manner and
loving disposition endeared her in the
hearts of the people of the little town
of Deanville. and since babyhood her
diguified given name of Margaret had
been discarded for the more suitable
one of Merrie. On this warm summer
day large party of young people
We're gathered In the hall of Merrie's
home to discuss ways and means Of
providing a pair of curtains for the
stage of the town hail. A little play
was TO be given soon for the benefit
of the Red Cross, and a pair Of cur
talns were absolutely necessary. How
to get the money for them was the
question which was troubling the
minds Of the young folks. Judge Ora
ham was very penurious man, who
according to the small boys of the
town, had barrels and barrels of mon.
ey hidden under the apple trees" Mer
rie's sugges ion YVES 10 ask him to pay
for the curtains. This suggestion was
greeted with a laugh, and said to be
highly impossible. Nothing was impos
sible, according to Merrie's rule in life,
and so she determined to visit the
judge and try her luck.
Stanley Morton splendid young
man in the service who had just re-
turned from France, took up her bet.
all 80 you, Merrie!" he cried but ]
don't believe you can do it, Just
you wait and see, then was the retort
as Merre caught up her wide garden
hat and sped down the street to the
judges home.
In answer to her vigorous pun on the
oid-faShioned knocker the judges one
and only servant, Maria Jane Ham.
mond, and very neat in her attire,
opened the door,
In short time the judge appeared
He was very much surprised to see
who his call was. During his life
and wished for less. Merrie rose and
held out her hand. Judge Graham
she said sweetly, 81 have come on o
very important mission. / am rep
resentatiye of the committee which is
directing the play to he given in the
town hall next week, and have come
to ask you to furnish the money tC
buy pair of curtains for the stage !
For second the judge blinkeG
dazedy at her. Then his temper rose
young lady, l am very sorry / can
not comply with your request. have
no money to spend for foolish non
sensel" Merrie smiled, absolutely un
disturbed. 1T does sound foolish
doesn't it7" she said, but really, II
is not, because 1t is for the benefit
of the Red Cross. You know we sim
ply cannot change the scenes without
a curtain. that would be too much =
She smiled so bewitchlngly that the
judge was forced to wipe his brow
with his handkerchief. "WeIl-er-l
- can't be bothered with 1t, so there
and he stormed out of the library
leaving Merre alone.
She sat very still In her chair and
thor half rose. NO won't be beaten
In this way" she declared, and again
resumed her seat. The judge came
In for b;a o,loccaa which ho hod loft
on the table. He was utterly aston
ished to find his fair visitor still there
'Why-!' he stopped, helplessly. I'm
after the money for the curtain, you
know. judgei" The poor man was
bahled. He argued with her for q
While, and then he, Judge Alexander
r, Graham. silently and submissively
took out his fat wallet and extracted
from 1t three $50 bills. rs that
enoughr ne asked. Eyes, / believe
so, Merrie answered. and stuffed the
money into her bag. AS she was es
corted to the door, she turned to the
Judge. "Your bark is lots worse than
your bite, Judge" and she departed
leaving thE ulun ibphiii6 uAANA lA1As -
home the young people eagerly awaited
her return She waved the bills alOft
trlur1phantly. She told them all about
it, ,.ud peals OF laughter greeted her
story "Merrie Crayton, you are the
j. e., was the general verdict Stan
ley was made to pay his bet, and he
d it gracefully. He drew Merrie
n IL and whispered: Dear child, you
n strange talent for extracting
b money and hearts out Of the men
Y meeti"
ia the night Of the play the town
hi was crowded. Judge Graham, who
Vs. never known to attend any so
c.. affair. occupied front seat. Tho
ne red curtains hung gracefully and
were the cause Of many comments
from the audience. The play was q
complete success. and the Red Cross
VS. richer by several hundred dollars
tlan before. On the way home Stan
lev asked Merrie the question, old yei
ever new, and received a very satisfac
trrv answer. The first to spy the
RING on her left hand was old Judge
Graham. now frequent visitor at tht
Crayton home. To her he coniided
"Merrie, my dear child, II ! We're
Younger, think I'd marry you my