The free South. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1863-1864, 1863-04-11

| ana all tne lawyers Ill the Town WILL
tell it you too, Barker, as well as Mr.. Bell
and myself; but I'll give you this bit of
advice gratis; when you hand over money
again, mind you always get receipt for
it." And having said this, I got him out
of the house.
Returning to the breakfast table, my
wife received me with. the sarcastic re-
mark:
"And that is what lawyers call justice,
Luke"
"Well, my love-" 1 replied, Barker
may or may not have lost the money as he
relates, but,any lawyer will tell you heca
not recover under the circumstances.
Harlan bears respectable character in
comparison with his ac6tser, but who in
Snickertown would believe Sim Barker on
his oath even?''
Luke" said Mrs. B., to my ineffable
astonishment, ego and bring Barker back
Eagaip.'
- ttYhatr,I calculated.
DO as I say mean to take this case
in hand myself"
/ had made mp my mind during my
courtship, that Mrs. B. was woman OF
great decisions of character, AM three
ayears of married life had considerably m
&ensifed that impression. So l put on
,|ay hat, and, five minutes afterwards, Bar
tker and myself were walking back to the
Shouse. Leaving my wife's client In the
Office on our arrival, I sought Mrs B. for
fdzther instructions, and found her up
stsirs in consultation with Sol Gregsly
lillts Sim Barker" said, sis down in fhe
I ice. and now I would like to know waat
!! = sa are going to do with him. Iten you
beforehand, you'll never recover this mon
ey s by any process Of law. Barker has no
receipt for it, and he says himself that no
witnesses were present when he handed
sSyer the hundred dollars to Harlan. The
Case is simply er parte, and between the
Haths of Harlan and Barker all Smoker
fown will side with the former. Besides,
ls.;s Credit that drunken, loaf
ing rascal Ike SIM wodld haSsa Hdndred
dollars in bispossession?'
tfDrunklSa and loafer he may be, an
swered my Mite, *but that is no reason
why lie should berobbed of his money:
Did he not tell you howshe obtained pos
session of so large sum?"
3s. Yes, and that makes the matter still
worse! He says he won it at poker, and
he had the assurance to tell me that he
knows the game-meaning, ofcourse, that
he cheated
"Wen,'' replied Mrs. B." all you say
does not Justify Harland in robbing him.
and however disreputable a character Bar
ker NAV be, he certainly does not cause
twentieth part of the misery and wicked
ness that the whiskey-seller does. Now,
Luke, you must go down stairs and tell
your new client you will recover the mon
ey for him, but he must first obtain an
other hundred dollars"
Down stairs went, more mystified than
ever. Putting the best face possible on
the matter, I told Barker his money might
be recovered if he would raise an equal
sum amongst his friends and acquaintan-
ces. Sims physiogmony did not wear
benign expression when made this state
ment. and it took me several minutes to
convince him that he could never get back
the stolen money unless he consented to
do so. At length he told me that ne
might, perhaps, obtain the sum from hls
brother at Snakeylle, but as that place
was fifteen miles from Snickertown, he
could not possibly get back before next
day. Up stairs I went again to consult.
Mrs. B.
"He must be back here this evening,
said nv wife. "You can lend him your
mare, and Gregsly will ride over there
with him. Gregsly says he can borrow
horse from one of his friends, and don't
forget this, Luke; make Barker promise
not to touch any liquor until his return"
"weI,"I replied, II will do as you
saw but the more I hear of the matter,
the more am mystifed." :.
"That's my case, too, added sdf Gregs-
| ", "but reckon Mrs. Blivius Will pull
us through all straight. I'm for doing
anything she orders SO we can make that
whiskey poisoner, Harlan, disgorge his
plunder."
"He will do that within twenty-fous
bours." observed nv wife, "but see here