The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-09-08

tleman's promise, and the old gentleman
had subsequently changed his mind.
Here was an opportunity of impressing
Mr.. Ward with my legal acumen.
Excuse my interrupting you one
moment, Mr.. Ward" and I rung the
bell. Blobbs entered.
"Blobbs, give me 'Chitty on Con-
tracts, and then go and ask Mr.. Cock
sure's clerk to oblige me with the loan
of the sixth volume of 'Meeson and
Welsby.' think / can give you a case
just in point, Mr.. Ward" Blobbs
handed me "Chitty on Contracts"
which in point of fact was on the mantel-
piece Immediately behind me, and de-
parted to execute the remainder of my
order. / referred to the index, murmur-
ing audibly: Consideration-good-
valuable = marriage page 49," then
turned to the passage and silently pc
rused it with much attention. "Ah,
yes, / thought sol"
Blobbs here returned with the bor-
rowed volume, in which, with an air of
deep reflection, turned to an imaginary
authority. "No, that won't do. / had
forgotten for the moment that that case
was Overruled by Jones vs. Robinson.
Pray, proceed, Mr.. Ward"
Mr.. Ward had more than once at
tempted to continue his story, but, with
a gentle wave of the hand, had cour-
teously yet firmly deprecated Interrupt
ton. He resumed, apologetically:
Sim afraid I'm giving you deal of
trouble. Mr.. Browne"
"Not at all, Mr.. Ward, assure you.
/ always like to make sure, from the
outset, as to the broad principles appli-
cable"
"Quite so, sir; very true. But am
afraid there is little misunderstand-
ing"
81 think not. have followed you
with great attention. A married BIS
daughter @ on the faith of an undertake
ing by b that he will, ON his death, leave
@ the whole of his property b Chats
Club, you know dies and he does not
leave the property to @ CHATS Mrs.
Podgers, but to somebody else. Isn't
that your case2" And 1 leaned back in
my chair and eyed him with deny-that-
n-you-can sort of expression.
"Just exactly so, sir. If you'd been
one of the family yourself, you couldn't
have got it more pat. They all went on
as comfortable as possible till, one Sun
day, the old gentleman dined with the
Podgerses, and he found a caterpillar in
the vegetables. He would have it they
did it on purpose. He went home at
once, tore up his will and made another,
leaving every penny of his money to the
Asylum for Incurable Clearstarchers.
The excitement brought on an apoplec-
tic fit, and he died, the very same night.
Personality sworn under f25,000 and
Podgers all but in the Gazette"
1 began to fear that the case would
prove to be chancery matter, and that
my share in it would be limited to Civ
ing Mr.. Ward an elaborate opinion to
that effect. But it clearly would not do
to make any suggestion Of the kind at
the present stage of the proceedings.
'Ah, just as thought, you see." 1
tried to look as if / had anticipated every
detail of the case, even to the caterpil-
lar. "Well, the question now is, what
evidence have we, first, of distinct
agreement on the part of b OTHERWISE
Grubb) to leave all his property to his
daughter, and, secondly, that A (other.
wise Podgers) married ON the faith of
that promise. You hear what Chitty
says: "A valuable consideration is such
as money, marriage, or the like, which
the law esteems an equivalent given for
the grant, and is therefore founded on
motives of justice. That's the law, but
how about the facts? Mere assertion
won't do you know /; we want evidence"
Well, as to evidence, I'm afraid
there isn't much in a legal sense. Mr..
Cocksure has advised upon the case, and
he says that we havn't any evidence
in fact, that we havn't leg to stand
upon.
1t was fattering and at the same time
a little alarming to be consulted in
case in which Mr.. Cocksure had already
expressed an adverse opinion. If Mr..
Cocksure was tirnid, had better be at
least cautious.
you will have uphill work before
you, I'm afraid, and 1 should recon-
mend you, Mr.. Ward, as a man of bust
ness (this is, of course. between our
selves, to see your way very clear as to
your costs out of pocket. The Incurable /
Clearstarchers will fight hard, sir, you
may depend on il. -
"Oh dear, yes, sir; no doubt they
would. But we've quite made up our
minds not to go to law about the matter.
1t would only be throwing good money
after bad; leastways it would, if we had
any to throw; but we haven't. Podgers
ran away to America, last Monday, and
his poor wife and five young children
are this moment living in two-pair back |
in Camden town, sustaining miserable
existence on the scanty remains of the
stock in trade"
A horrible misgiving crossed my mind,
and shut up Chitty.
"I thought mean to say / sup
posed really don't quite see, then, in
what way 1 can be of service in the case,
MIR. Ward"
We'll, you see, sir, Mr.. Virgins told |
me as you was an uncommon kind |
hearted gentleman, so l made bold to
call and ask if you wouldn't put down