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Show MAGISTRATE COULDN'T SEE Tt Mike's Splendid Excuse Failed to Touch Hard-Hearted Occupant of the Bench. It was not the first time, by a long way, that Mike Mulhogan had stood in that particular police court as the chief actor in the play call it tragedy or comedy, as you think fit. But it was not merely custom that had robbed the court of its terrors on this occasion. The reason for his happy smile lay i?. the fact that he had real downright, cast-iron defense. He was charged with having beeni found on the occupied premises to which he had no moi 1 or legal right of entrance. Yet, when the charge was read out, he smiled even more happily, if that be possible, than ever. "Not guilty, your worship!" he exclaimed, ex-claimed, with conviction. "But," answered the - magistrate-"there magistrate-"there seems to be no doubt that yois were found on these premises. What is your defense?" Mike leaned on the dock rail an(f addressed the magistrate confidentially. confiden-tially. "It's like this, your worship," he saicT. amiably. "It was two o'clock of fine autumn morning, clear moon, not-a not-a slop in sight, and the dining room-window room-window wide open and a mighty fine dining room it was, too! Why, your worship, supposin' you had been passing pass-ing there, blow me if you wouldn't have got inside yourself!" A little later poor Mike's smile hacl vanished. |