478

THE GREEN BAG

stepped inside and "Sam" locked the door. "Say," Sam said, "that fellow thinks he is God-A-Mighty in this country." His reference was unmistakably to the justice. "But he ain't nuthin'. Some day I'll get mad and beat him to death." "I'll come and help you," Brown offered. "He had you when it come to argyment, didn't he? Oh, he's eddicated all right. But you just wait 'till I get mad." Three days later Brown was passing down the street of the little town where he had his office when he met the justice supported on the arm of a friend. The justice sighted him and lurched toward him dragging his companion. Brown prepared to defend himself. "Thar's the feller," cried the judge. "Thar's the slickest thing on two legs in

the state of Florida. Thar's a feller that will get thar! Shake." He shook Brown's hand with violence. "I'm sorter drunk," he went on, "but I know what I'm talkin' about. I thought you was a fool because you looked like one." He turned to his friend. "Here's a feller what bamboozled me like I'd been born yesterday. You ain't botherin 'about comin' back to my town is you?" Brown did not understand him. The judge hugged a post, so overcome was he with his mirth. "How does he git his client's off? Fool with the law? Not much. He tells 'em to watch their chance and git for Alabama and they git. Mr. Simpkins, you is shaking the hand of Mr. Brown, the future governor of this state." ROME, ITALY, April, 1905