The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1875-10-28
David Moss, Attorney,


poverty, caught at the skirts OF tsC
legal profession. A sign with gil
letters, "David Moss, Attorney and
Solicitor at law" was tackled on my
Office door on Louisiana avenue
Within, few dusty books, an empty
desk and dilGpidated arm chair pro
claimed my legal status. / had wait.
ed patiently for criminals and per
picked debtors to rush 10 and seek my
advice, but they did not rush well
and hope deferred had nearly made
me sick.
On the morning of December 2lst
1872, 1 sat discOnsOlately in my office,
with my Overcoat buttoned up to my
chin, said overcOat answering in lieu
of fire, and took q prospective glance
at my affairs. Ny finance stood two
to five-that is, s hve-cent nickel to a
twO-cent copper. | smiled at my an
ticipsted happiness, and took an in
ventnry OF my wardrobe. Like their
owner, my coat and pants had evil
IDENTIFY seen better days; for, although
rusty and thread-bare, they showed
traces OF their original color and tex
ture. / had commenced to ruminate
on my condition and achieve plans
for the future. But all that I could
bring to and were .he words of Horace
Greedy, "Go West" To go West was
to my fancy literal burial Of my
splendid possibilities" I knew 1
possessed what young man is there
that does not think the same p genius
that would astOnish the world II It
could only find an outlet or an inlet
Just as / arrived at this point in my
reflections, the door of my office
swung softly on its hinges, and q man
closely muf1ed in winter apparel
stood by my side.
"Are you 8 lawyer, sir ?" he said
With a questioning glance of his steel
gray eyes.
That Is my business" 1 returned,
eoolly Strengthening myself to the full
height Of my five feet six. ~
He smiled at my manner, slipped q
five-dollar bill ia my hand, and said,
blandly:
"I have come for advice"
This was coming to the point. L
thawed Instantly, and asked my client
to be seated.
He was q middle-aged man, tall and
sinewy, with black hair sparsely mix
ed with gray. His Gress and manner
proclaimed him q man Of wealth. 1
noticed this as he slowly seated him.
self.
Suppose" said he, "you had an
only daughter, and she was obstinate
ly determined on marrying q man
that you despised-a man whom you
knew TO be 8 villain, but had no
means OF proving it."
"Is your daughter OF age ?" asked.
az did not say she was my daughter,
young man; you jump at con-
clusions; no able lawyer accepts any
thing without proof"
felt that had suddenly changed
places with him3shst he was the
attorney and l was the client but
taking no notice OF his words, re-
peated the question with variation.
''Is she OF age?"
"Yes," was the reply, "she is of age,
and as obstinate as q mule"
"Disinherit her." l suggested.
"0h," said he, with shrug of his
shoulders, az have tried everything.
have told her she should not have q
penny of my money; have kept her
on bread and water hired govern
esses to watch her-in fact, I have left
no stone unturned."
"There remains only two methods /:
incarcerate her In al insane asylum,
or put detectives on his track, and
convict him OF some ignOblc action, {"
I said.
"Your last suggestion is the best.
But even IL 1 should convict him of
murder she would imagine that it was
q conspiracy on my part, and marry
him at the gsllows-" I
He remained in deep thought for
sereral minutes, and then said:
"Young man, I don't think your
business is very lucrative. How
would you like to change it for some
thing more profitable ?''
Change or starvation was eyident-
ly necessity for me, so of course l
had no objection to offer. In fact,
my escape from my present condition
seemed like God-send to me. i'm
parted my willingness to make any
reasonable change. We soon agreed
upon terms which seemed to me more
than liberal, and together concOeted
some plan to bring the young lady to
submission.
I had some compunction Of con.
science, for two against oEe, and that
one of the weaker sex, seemed hardly
fair, but the novelty and the romance,
and the solid cash connected with it,
recOnciIed me to the situation.
Just as the sun from the west was
gliding the Capitol dome with the last
beams Of departing day, the train
from Baltimore came putting in. II
was Christmas eve, and the busy
crowds were hurrying to their homes.
Two days before, David Mess, at
torney and solicitor, seedy and thread
bare, had LEFT Washington for Bslti-
more. This evening the train
brought back David Moss, elegantly
attlred, 'Gentleman." tits astOnish.
ing how ones dress Increases their
self-respect. No doubt Polonius
thought Of this when he said TO his
son "Costly thy hsbit IS thy purse
can buy, for the apparel oft proelaims
the man."
What q change it had made in my
feelingsi A few days sgo so despon-
dent, now buOyed up by hope and 10y
increased good looks felt as hap
py as king. Ny mirror had told
me tbs same fisttering tals which il
tells many g belle. My ambrosial
locks were curled in style, my blonde
mustache was waxed to perfection,
my blue eyes sparkled, and my man.
ly form was imuersed In an elegant
suit OF broadeloth. Beside all this, I
hsd cultivated becoming pallor, for
was TO enact the role Of an invalid.
A carriage was waiting. I was as.
sisted into it by the obsequi0us foot.
man, and sank lRnguidly on the cush
ions. was driven to an elegant
mansion, met by my host aud almost