Evening star., 1922-06-04

Wild Mountain district court
taa. bland summer morn
0s ling--and even one respond
ent was somewhat unusual after pro-
.hibitfon had jammed down its heavy
shumb on the sources of the supplies
tthat had been tapped by the woods
Nnsn and the 1umberjacks of the re-
gion,, The respondent was Dicky
Diamond. a sawed off. dumpy black
amoor, who owned fishing camps at
Prong pond
"Dicky, my boy. where did you get
it?" inquired the Judge amiably.
"Jedge Dave. yesterday I done come
down to this yere town of olamon to
stock up on supplies. and 1 sampled
as bought"
Mostly what, Dicky
~FIavoring extracts, Jedge"
stock all bought and approved
errands in the village all cleaned
up-
"Yassir. Jedge Dave"
well. then. get back to your camp
and settle down TO business"
Dicky ducked a salute and hustled
out and clattered down the stairs
ing to the judges office.
TT was a combination of law Office
i and courtroom. On one window
was painted David Winn. Lawyer"
On the other was heralded Dustin
Peaslee. Insurance" Mr.. Peaslee had
a corner of the room for his uses.
=, cd
the dissatisfied Mr.. Peaslee with great
tolerance.
81 ought to have allowed you to
preside this morning. Mr.. Recorder.
I'm afraid I'm too easy
You are"
But mustn't interfere with Dicky
IN the fishing season. He's the best
cook in the region. And I've got a
hint from the governor that he's COM
ing up here strictly incog and wants
more of Dicky's waffles. In such a
case as that We must let mercy tenn
per justice in our. court, Mr.. Re-
corder."
Don't call me that name-it makes
me nervous. My Gawd, Dave. what IL
anything should happen to take you
away when a matter was coming up
in court here and 1 should be called
on to presider'
You'd have to preside
I'D skip out of the country first.
Peaslee's tone was almost a wall.
He was weakened and bald and he
had the unmistakable demeanor of a
man who was constitutionally timid.
We'll, now that the matter is mem
toned, I must advise you to stop
writing letters to the governor re-
signing the position. Your resigna-
ton won't be accepted"
Recorder Peaslee. round eyed, dis
played his resentful astonishment.
"Oh, when two men are alone in a
boat. fishing. even governor gets
chatty.'' said the judge demurely.
He thinks you're very valuable
man. He doesn't want to lose you.
He told me about the letters. They
make him sad
Hes helping you in your joke"
protested Peaslee. He rammed the
appointment onto me when l wasn't
looking
We'll, Pease, old scout. the gov
ernor probably wants to be consist
ent The folks all say that I'm more
or less of a joke as Judge" He put
his feet on the table and puffed his
pipe and gazed out into the beauty
Of the summer day.
The blue hills invited him. the rip
pied ponds that were cupped in the
wooded hollows. But the sprawling
village near at hand was not invit-
ing The houses were slackly kept
up The everlasting squall of the
saws of the Davenport mills seemed
to keep the nerves of the dwellers in
the place sharp-edged. David Winn.
from the nature of his profession,
was we'll informed regarding the
quarrels and jealousies. grudges and
meannesses of the village of Olamon.
Another sort of lawyer would have
profited largely from such condi-
titons. But he tried to induce all
to settle their quarrels by mutual
agreement, and if they did settle in
his presence he always threw of
counsel fees. telling the litigapts they
deserved that reward of merit. q.
TJERE and there around the office
L were stuck cards lettered with
his own hand. 1t was his habit to
stare steadily at an especially sug-
gestive motto while client talked;
after a time the clients eyes would
follow the judges gaze. These were
some of the notices: You May Pay
for Law, but Justice is Free in this
Shop" 'Neighbors, Get Together"
NO Charge for Common Sense
Common Sense Saves Court Costs" "
Don't Argue-Agree."
He had a slow and soothing delib-
erateness of speech, his brown eyes
had a twinkle in them. and he had a
boyish. ingenious countenance to go
with his erect figure. It was only on
the occasions when he became deeply
serious that an observer took note of
the touches of gray at Winns tenn
Piles.
Yes. you're joker all right
enough" commented Peaslee after a
few moments silence. You even
practice law for the fun of it!'
The lawyer replied by a smile
which provoked more rebuke.
I'm going to tell Jack Starr that
he'd better go back to his job with
the timber company; there's chance
for him to rise if he keeps on there.
But his studying law in this office.
Dave, with the example you're setting
him, will never get him anywhere.
And the boy is growing nervous and
anxious and discouraged. 1 can see