The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-11-19
THE ADVOCATES RIGHT BOWER

1t may be asked what we mean by
putting fright bower" in such CON
nection 1t was Judge Lurlington's own
expression. Half dozen young lawyers,
fresh from their studies, and just admit
ted to the bar, were listening to his adj
vice. The old jurist had bottle of wine
at his elbow, and was in a communicative
mood.
"Young men," he said, whatever
may be your strait, never take case be-
fore a jury, or before any court,
unless you have your right bower for a
lead"
If the reader surmises from this that the
old Judge was fond of euchre, he will not
have surmised amiss.
The young men looked at him inquir-
ingly.
"I mean," he added, that you shall
never advocate a cause into the work of
which you cannot enter with clear con-
science. You shall never accept client
whose cause you do not believe to be
Just"
"Can that rule be always adhered to-"
asked one of the listeners.
at can" answered burlington, en-
phatically. {" 1t is the lawyers firm rock
of foundation, and the only sure point of
departure to the respect and confidence
of his fellows"
"Have you always followed that rule,
Judge9"
CT was never tempted from it but
once" he replied. 81 will tell you the
story, if you would like to hear it.
OF course they would like to; and hav-
ing laid aside his pipe, the old man COM
menced:
"One day was waited upon by man
who gave his name as Laban Sarfurt.
He was of middle-age, well-dressed, and
at first sight appeared to be gentle
man but the illusion was dispelled
when he approached business. He was
hard and unfeeling, and naturally vii
lain. Success in speculation had saved
him from becoming thief or high
wayman. had heard of him as heavy
dealer in the up-river lands. He asked
me if 1 was willing to undertake job
which would call me to Shireton. L told
him / was open to any legitimate bust
ness which would pay.
Z" Mr.. burlington, said he, tapping
me with coarse familiarity upon the arm,
1 want to secure your services. You
must not be engaged upon the other
side
81 told him if he would explain to me
the case might be better able to give
him an answer. He bit al enormous
quid of tobacco from black plug, and
having got it into shape between his
square jaws, he went on with his
story.
"The case was one of ejectment. An
elderly man, named Philip Acton, had
died, leaving valuable estate. There was
nearly thousand acres of land, with OPP
portunities for developing immense
water-power, and ere many years that
land would be worth more than mill
ion dollars. At present, upon the estate,
and claiming it rs son of the deceased,
was man calling himself William
Acton.
"'But, said Sarfurt, he is not le-
gitimate child at all. His mother was
Betsey Totwood, at one time girl In
Acton's employ. Acton, L know, was
never married. He brought the boy up,
and educated him, and now the fellow
thinks he will step into his protector s
shoes. / can prove that / am the Inly
living relative of Philip Acton. He was
my uncle-my mothers brother-and,
to a lawyer as smart as yourself, there
can be no difficulty in proving my title.
can bring the witnesses to your hand.
He told me lie would give me five
hundred dollars if / would undertake his
case, and an additional thousand if
gained. That was big fee-far more
than / had then made IN all my plead
ing. 1t was tempting. And vet I saw
that 1t was not perfectly clear-not en-
tirely honest. The probability was, that
this William Acton was Philips child
and 1T was not impossible that Philip
had married Betsey Totwood. 1t struck
me that Laban Sarfurt was villain, and
that he fancied he had young Acton so
far in his power that he could eject him
from the title. But what had particu-