The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-11-06
The Judge
Knew
By JUSTIN WENTWOOD

BY JUSTIN WENIWOOO
Dorrance had looked askance at
Wentworth ever since he began
visiting at the judges house. Judge
Lomax had Officiated over In Tyson
county, but had now taken up the
ranch in Harrisville.' Wentworth
had located In Harrisville two
years before and gone into the In
surance business there. Dorrance
was In the land game and had busi-
ness interests which he shared with
the Judge.
The principal one Of these, how
ever, was Molly /Lomax. When
Wentworth arrived they were sup
posed to be engaged. AS matter
Of fact they were not engaged.
Molly had said she didn't know her
own mind and would see. 1t took
her q long while to see. AS a mat
ter of fact. she knew she did not
really care for Dorrance. But she
wondered whether 1t was In her ma
ture to care for anyone.
But when Wentworth, and she
met she ceased to wonder. She had
cared for Wentworth from the
time they first met.
For a long time she wondered.
Wentworth was one Of those men
who kept one guessing. He was
slow of speech, slow Of action,
grave, steady. He had hardly any
friends in Harrisvllle, though all
spoke we'll Of him-the Judge, espe-
cially. Sometimes Wentworth would
come over to the ranch In the eve
nlngs and play chess with her
father. Molly wondered what his
past had been. A man of thirty
must have had experiences-tragic
ones, Molly thought-to have be-
come so serious. 1t pleased her to
think that there was something In
Wentw0rth's past. Other people
thought It, too. They sought his
company no more than he sought
hers.
"You'te probably right, Molly"
her father said, when she preached
the hubject to him. "But in this
pact of the world, dear, we Judge
man by what he Is; we don't
ask questions" Isl,
daddy, you don't think 1t was
acknowledgement, do your"
II didn't mean to suggest that"
replied the Judge.
Molly thought her father spoke
a little strangely. But she had
worse things to trouble her. She
had begun to dislike Dorrance, per.
haps because he was almost the
antithesis Of Wentworth. The two
men had met once at her house
and Dorrance's hostility was evil
| dent.
And she wondered whether
Wentworth really cared for her
That doubt was solved one evening
when he told her.
molly, dear. you've known
haven't you?" he asked. "lvt
cared ever since we met. But
there's something I must tell you.
"There's nothing you have to tel
me-" answered Molly-and thel
somehow they found themselves II
each others arms.
They did not know how long the!
stood thus. They were interrupted
by a sneerlng laugh behind them
Molly spun round-to see DOrranct
standing In the doorway. watching
them.
$50 that's it, is it," he jeered
Judge. will you come here a mo
ment?"
The Judge came slowly out of hi!
study. Perhaps he had heard. Ill!
tone was stiff as he addressed Dor
rance:
swell. Dorrance?"
II happened upon an interestin,
sight q minute ago. This man
Molly sprang between them a
Wentworth advanced upon tn
other. She held him back.
II suppose they are engaged. ant
I l think I ought to ten you some
thing, being the person principal.
concerned. At least, was given +
understand"
II gave you to understand moth
ing" said Molly Indignantly.
anyway, this man Wentworth
I've had his record looked up on
OF lrleUUSNIp luz yOus JuOeC AoAAssh
He's a jailbird. He served
year in the state penitentiary 70
embezzlement Ave years ago. l
fine fellow to have around you
home, Judge, kissing your daugf1
ter"
Wentworth was staring straigh
In front of him. Molly chung t
him. ~ don't care! don't care
she painted.
The Judges tone was icy MS h
answered. you've found mare
nest. I've known all about tina,
and as my daughter has said sh
doesn't care l may say don't. !
was an act Of boyish folly TO
which Mr.. Wentworth has long ag
made amendment"
He turned to Wentworth. "Yo,
see, my dear fellow" he said, -
am the Judge who sentenced YOU
Good evening. Mr.. Dorrance"
@. 1898. Western Newspaper Union. }