Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1925-07-22
A Game Two
May Play
By JACK WOODFORD

me, make the proper representations
to the clerk and he will arrange for
an interview | never see ladies, es-
pecially pretty one, here alone
But I'm in already" reminded the
girl ominously, apl arently struggling
now for courage to 20 on.
AS he approached her she suddenly
reached to her waist and with quick
movement pulled out its folds. Judge
Duncan sank back into his chair,
white of face.
"Who are you?" he questioned, after
a long, tense pause.
"My name is Loring," responded the
woman.
"Any relation to the LOring that
comes up on my calendar in connec-
ton with the State versus Lorng, next
week %
His wife"
"Well?" he shot out, swinging about
with the lighted cigar clenched firmly
between his teeth.
"Your honor my husband is inno-
cent, but I'm afraid that the state Is
going to be able to build up damning
case against him; I'm afraid that he
is going to hang, unless"
Murdered an old woman in her
bed, to get her life's savings, didn't
he? Frankly, madam, | should con-
slider it a great crime against society
If the state did not build up a damn
ing case against him" The young
woman further increased her dis
habille and stepped slowly toward
him.
Judge, unless you give me a writ
ten paper saying that you'll use every
effort to swing things my husbands
way during the trial | Shall scream at
the top of my voice, until people come
in here" She paused, tensely, few
feet from his chair.
Out what good would such paper
as you suggest be; couldn't | simply
say that it was obtained under cir
cumstances of unusual duress%
"Write out that note, judge, or Eli
start the wild yells floating out into
the corridor" Judge Duncan froWned
gravely and then nodded his head
slightly, as though he had come to
some decision.
go ahead, Mrs. Loring; go ahead
bat | warn you. when they come in
they'll arrest you for murder, and DO
you think that husband of yours is
quite worth swinging for, or spending
a long period of your life as laun-
dress for the state over? For some
moments she stood silently trying to
discern the meaning Of this surprise
attack
"Why I am not armed!" she ven
tured.
NO, perhaps not, but I am" and he
turned to his drawer and took out
revolver.
q don't understand you." she man
aged at last, clasping her hand over
her throat.
'perhaps l can make things clear"
offered the judge. you have me, as
they say in the streets, dead to rights
there is nothing l can do to com
pletely outWit you; everyone would
credit what you said-I would be
ruined, politically and socially-I
wouldn't have the courage to face it."
But YOU can write out the paper
and avoid all complications sug-
gested the woman.
That's the last thing I'd do" shot
out Judge Duncan banging his fist
down upon the table emphatically. 81
cherish my honor, far more than my
lifel You have me in position where
I've got to do one of three things: be
charged with unspeakable conduct to-
ward a woman in distress; forsake my
ideals and fix a trail-or l
much prefer the latter Before I'll
sacrifice my honor, or face the alter
native of being publicly disgraced
III blow my brains out with this
weapon here-which, by the way, is
not mine, and no one will know but
what it belonged to you" For some
moments the woman eyed him silently.
you'd never have the nerve" she
finally managed uncertainty.
''Wen," remarked the judge, throw
ing out his hands, maybe not. Per
haps I'm misjudging myself; perhaps,
even, I'm merely bluffing you-but if
/ should not be bluliing; if l should
have the nerve =. it would be
pretty awkward for you when people
rushed in here and found signs of a
81, a.