The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1876-09-13
THE RIGHT BOWER.
1t was Judge Lurlington's own ex.

Half dozen lawyers, fresh from
their studies, and just admitted 10 the
bar, were listening 10 bis advice. The
old jurist had a bottle of wine at his
elbow, and was in a communicative
mood.
"Young men," he said, "whataver
may be your strait, never take a case
before jury or before any court, un.
less you have your right bower for a
lead"
If the reader suymises from this that
the old Judge was fond Of euchre, he
will not have surmised amiss.
The young men looked at him in.
quiringly.
"l mean," he added, "tbat you shall
never advocate cause into the work
OF which you cannot enter with clear
conscience. You shall never accept a
client whose cause you do not believe
to be just"
"Can that rule always be adhered
to r asked one of the listeners.
"It can," answered darlington, EN-.
phatically. at is a lawyers firm rock
Of foundation, and the only sure point
Of departure to the respect and conf
dence of the fellows"
"Have you always followed that rule,
Judge2" 4
81 was never tempted from it but
once" he replied ~ will tell you the
story, if you would like to hear it."
"Of course they would like to; and
having laid aside his pipe the old man
began:
Zone day / was waited upon by a
man who gave his name as Laban Sar.
furt. He was of middleage, we'll
dressed, and at fret sight appeared TO
be gentleman but the illusion was
dispelled when approaching business.
He was bard and urfeeling, and natu-
rally O william. Success in speculation
had saved him from becoming thief
or highwayman. / had heard of him
as a heavy dealer in the up-river lands.
lie asked me If / was willing TO under
take job which would call me to
Shireton. l told him l was open to
anything legitimate that would pay.
"Mr. burlington" said he, tapping
me with coarse familiarity upon the
arm. II want to secure your services:
you must not be engaged on the other
side"
81 told him if he would explain to
me the case / night be better able to
give him an answer" He bit an snor-
nous quid of tobacco from a black
plug, and having got it into shape be.
tween his jaws, he went on with his
story.
"The case is one of ejectment. An
elderly man, named Philip Acton. had
died leaving a valuable estate. There
was nearly a thousand acres of land,
with opportunities for developing i'm
mense water power, and ere many
years that land would be worth more
than a million dollars. At present
upon the estate, and claiming It as q
son of the deceased, was a man calling
himself William Acton"
"But," said Sarfnrt, "he is not lie.
gitimate child at all. His mother was
Betsy Totwood, at one time a girl in
Actions employ. Acton, know, was
never married. He brought the boy
up and educated him, and now the fel-
low thinks he will step into his pro.
tector's shoes. l can prove that / am
the only living relative of Philip Ac-
ton. He was my uncle-my mothers
brother-and, 70 a lawyer as smart as
you, there can be no difficulty in prov
ing my title. can bring the witness
es to your hand"
"He told me he would give me FIVE
hundred dollars if / would undertake
the case, and an additional thousand If
/ gained. That was a big fee-far
more than had then made in all my
practice. 1t was tempting. And yet
] saw that 1t was not perfectly clear
not entirely honest. The probability
was that this William Acton was Phil.
ip's child and it was not impossible
that Philip had married Betsy Tot
wood. It struck me that Laban Sar-
furt was a william, and that he fancied
that he had young Acton so far in his
power that he could eject him from the
title. But what had ! particularly to
do with thati fl accepted a client
-, 80. ---"A him. had no business
4 muse
but to serve his interest. / finally told
Mr.. Sarfurt that / would think the
matter over. I should probably have
business in Shireton during the session
of court, and / would call on him
there and examine more fully. Icould
not take his retainer until l had fur
ther light.