PURE LUCK.

Otaki Mail, 1 June 1923, Page 3

PURE LUCK.

ft (By “P.D.Q. ”)

H Horatio blinrp, S.M., had lunched ■Fell, and was silting enjoying a glass Bf port. He had been a Magistrate for years. ..aud„o!fic-u boasted that lie never let a prisoner oil too lightly. Why should lie.’ They came before him for punishment, and lie would, see that they got it! Some people prated about Justice tempered with money, but there was no nonsense of that kind about him. Now, tire events of the day were running through his mind. What a. cad 1 that fellow Smithson was to be sure.’ I Fancy a man like that ou the Bench.' | No tact, no judgment, and none of tin,, sternness of moral filue so necessary lo the efficient Judge: moreover, lie was 1 a rabid prohibitionist. They had had quite a heated argument at the club that morning, in fact, nearly every meeting was the scene of some unpleasantness between them.

Horatio helped himself to another glass of port, it was really excellent port —lie must make a note m order another dozen of the same brand. There was only one case set down for hearing that afternoon—a wretched drunkard. He had been found helplessly intoxicated in a public street; what a sight! Dusgusting! Horatio would give him tiie maximum penalty as an example; that sun of thing must 1/e put down, lie looked at his watch

—just, one o'clock, the ease came mi at two-thirty. .He would have another 'glass of that excellent port —then lorty , winks, lie woke with a start, and looked at the time—two o’clock! He - had plenty of time, so he would walk down to the court-house—perhaps the walk would drive away that stuffy ' feeling. He took up his hat and stick ’ and went out into the street. He felt •worse when he got into the fresh air; | his head began to throb violently, and .the street seemed to rise to meet him ' in a most unaccountable way. lie found ' himself bumping into people on the footpath, who stared at him in a pe- ■ culiar manner; finally his legs refused to support him. That put i! I Horrors! he must be drunk! ' He staggered into the angle of a shop doorway, and sat dowa lieavdy on the

pavement. In a few moments a miv. •! collected, and a policeman v. a- -nr To'. “ ‘Ere 'old up old party,” said ihe man in blue, as he raised him in his feet, but Horatio could not stand. ‘• Take me to the court-hou.-c, uikeei,” he said feebly. “I am the pie-siding Mig’strate, I must be tin" by Two-thirty.'’ “None of your lie.-, ww. aasweiid ■ “ policeman. “lon’ll ml i'> :ue ■ house all right, and serve you right u old ■■sharp is on the Be.a h’■ i.< '■ ff there. You’re jus l paralytic druriK, that's what you are.” Horatio was bundled into a cab and driven to the police station. He had no consciousness of time passing, until he found himself in familiar surroundings, but he viewed them from an unfamiliar angle. He was in the dock. Mho was that in his place on the Bench! Good .Heavens. Smithson! He became conscious that Smithson was speaking, “ban l believe my eves,” he was saying. “What is this man charged with. Sergeant?” “Drunk in a public street. Your Honour,” replied the Bergen lit. Smithson positively gloated. “*o this is what you have come to,’ he went on. “Possibly a secret dipsomaniac, I have long something of the kind. Disgustiiug! A man of your position and apparent refinement too. I will give von the maximum penalty the law provides for such cases, which is fourteen days hard labour. Take him away sergeant. ’ ’ The wretched prisoner collapsed.

He was awakened by the voice of the maid. Excuse me. sir. it’s nearly half-past two. X thought you had gone long ago, or I ould have called you before; shall I get you a taxi. A taxi, yes," he gasped, as it suddenly dawned on him that he had been dreaming. "To the court-house as fast as you cun." he ordered, when the taxi came. He arrived there just tu time. ••i ou ore convicted and discharged, - said Horatio Sharp to the hoary old reprobate who was led in to answer to the charge of being drunk ifr a public thoroughfare. The prisoner left the dock with amazement written on his features; he was an old offender, and. seeing who the Magistrate was, had expected a week at least. "Must be my lucky dav," he remarked to the sergeant who

passed him out. <f Yes. 99 growled the sergeuat, “lx were you I would go straight away and take a ticket in Taft You would be a moral to land it.'