The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-10-28
seIeetso saistsIIanp.
DAVID MOSS. ATTORNEY.

bad, after severe struggle ,cith poyer
ty, caught at the skirts of tie legal profess
sion. A sign with gilt letters, David
Moss, attorney and Solicitor at law" wa.
tackled Oh my Office door on Louisiana
avenue. Within, few dusty books, and
an empty Iesk and dilapidated arm chair
proclaimed my legal status. | had waited
patiently for criminal and perplexed debtors
% rush 10 and seek my advice, but .hey
did not rush vel, and hope deferred had
nearly made my heart sick
On the morning of Dee. q, 1872, / sat
disconsolately in my office, with nv over
coat huttoned mp 10 my chin, said overcoat
answering IN lieu of fire, and took a pros.
peotive glance at nv affairs Nv finanoes
stood two to tive--that is, a five cent nickel
to two cent copper. ] smiled at nv an.
ticipated happiness and took an inventory
Of my wardrobe. Like their owner. nv
coat and pants had evidently seen better
tiity eHuNeI tranaa.. rH'J "'i' tirtduNafe,
and t"xtsra I commenced tc ruminate on
my condition and achieve plans for the fu-
ture. But all that l could bring to aid
were the words of Horace Greeley: "Go
West" To 90 west was to my fancy a
literal burial Of all ny splendid possibili-
ties ! knew | possessed (what young
man is there that does not think the snme?
genius that would astonish the world if il
could only find an outlet or an inlet.
just as | arrived at this point in nv re-
Elections the door of my office swung softly
on its hinges and man closely mufied ir
winter apparel stood by my side.
Are you lawyer. sir?" he said, with a
questioning glance OF his steel-gray eyes
"That is my businens." I returned,
ooolly, Strengthening myself to the full
heighth Of my five feet sig.
He smiled at my manner, slipped FIVE
dollar bill in my hand said, blandly.
81 have come for advice"
This was coming to the point I thawet
instantly and asked my client TO be seat
ed.
He was a middle aged man, tall anG
sinewy, with black bair sparsely mixed
with grey. His dress and manner proclaim
ed him man of wealth. | noticed this
as he slowly seated himself
Suppose, said he, ''yOu had an only
daughter and she was obstinately determln
ed on marrying man that you desrised-
a man whom YOU knew to be villain, bu
had no means of proving it?''
'Is your daughter of age?" / ask ed
Il did not say she was my daughter
young man; you jump at conclusions; nc
able lawer accepts anything without proof
felt that had suddenly changed place:
with hin-that he was the attorney and
was the client; but, taking notice of hi.
words, | repeated the question With a varia
ton.
SIS she of age?'
Yes, was the reply ''She is of age
and as obstinate as a mule"
ooh " said he, with a shrug Of his shoul
der. i have tried everything. l hav,
told her she should not have a penny of N,
money; | have kept her on bread ant
water; hired covernesses to watch hrr-ir
fact, have left 70 stone unturned."
! There remain only two methods: in
c1rccrate he- in an insane asylum, or pu
1 detectives on his track and convict him o
scme igncble action said.
Your last suggestion is the best. Blu
even if l should convict him of murder 81
would imagine th5eft was a conspiracy OF
my part and marry him at the gellows."
| He remained in deep thought for severa
minutes, and then said:
Young man, dor't thirk your busines
/ is very lucrative. How would you Ike t
change II for something more profitable
Change or starvation was eyi !enely
necessity for me, so of course had no oh
4 jections to offer. In fact, any escape frou
my present condition seemed ike a God
send to nc. impaired my willingness t
make any reasonable change. We 500
agreed upon terms which seemed to m
more than liberal, and together concocte
some plan to bring the young lady to sub
mission.
had some compunetion of conscience
for two against one, and that one of tn
weaker sex seemed hardly fair, but th
novelty and the romance, and the solid cas-