The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-10-21

| II
case in which Mr.. Cocksure had already
expressed an adverse opinion. If Mr..
Cochsure was timid, had better be nj
least cautious.
You will have uphill work before
you | am afraid, and l should recon-
mend you, Mr.. Ward, us man of bust
ness, this is, of course, between our
selves) to see your way very clear as to
your costs ont of pocket. The Incura-
BILE Clearstarchers will fight hard, sir.
you may depend upon it,
"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; lcastways it would if we had
any to throw; but we haven't. Podg-
ers ran away to America last Monday
and his poor wife and five young chill
dren are at this moment living in two
pair back in Camden town, sustaining Il
miserable existence on the scanty re-
mains of the stock-in trade
A horrible misgiving crossed my
mind, and l shut up Gritty.
81 thought mean to say | sup
posed really don't quite see. then, in
what way / can be of service in the
case. Mr.. Ward"
"Well. you see. sir. Mr.. Virgins
told me as you was an uncommon kind
hearted gentleman. so l madcsbold to
call and ask if you wouldn't put down
your name for tritle for the widow and
orphans-not that Mrs. =. is precisely
a widow, nor yet the children exactly
orphans, but rather worse. if anything.
in my opinion, and another expected
almost Immediately, sir"
was fairly caught. Not for worlds
would l have let Mr. Ward know that
had been laboring under misappre
hension, and had been mentally wei
coming him as my first client. On the
other hand, after the extreme interest /
had exhibited in the case, could not
do less than give him a handsome dona
ton Smiling amiably. but inwardly
breathing the most awful imprecations
against Virgins land very nearly VOW
ing, on the spur of the moment, never
to have my hair cut again as long as |
livcd), expressed my extreme gratiti-
cation at having tie opportunity of con-
tributing sovereign to the necessities
of the Podgcrs family. Mr.. Ward
beamed with delight, and pressed on my
acceptance his card, assuring me that,
if l should at any time require any
thing in his line, it would be his most
earnest endeavor-thesc words, by the
way, he apparently spelt with an ito
give me satisfaction. He insisted on
shaking hands at parting, and appeared
to find considerable difficulty in tearing
himself away. At last. however, he de-
parted, leaving me still holding his card =,
whercon read:
GIpBINs h WARD.
Greengrocers,
1913 High street,
Bloomsbury.
Evening parties attended.
NV one absorbing thought. as soon as
l could think at all. was how on earth
to conceal the facts from Armitagc-
what possible fiction to invent which
should save my dignity from the expos
IRE of the horrible truth. What dread
full falsehood | might ultimately have
given birth to [ cannot say, for | was
saved from the ordeal by hearing q
burst or rather a succession of bursts,
of frantic laughter from the room to
WHltl ATulita-c Iu't rttlIt't. L IttSHtt
the door. which yielded to my touch.
Ny worst fears were realized. He knew
all. He was lying upon the bed, his
feet considerably above his head, cram
ming a pocket handkerchief in his
mouth. and every now and then break
ing ont afresh into peal OF maniac
laughter.
"Well. Browne. old boy. | hope
you've given the new client good,
sound legal opinion. Oh. dear. my
poor sides. Where shall we have the
dinner, eh, old man."
Come. Frank" / said. addressing
him more in sorrow than in anger,
"dont add insult to injury. You've
had the door aiar, You scoundrel; so
needn't tell you any particulars. But
at any rate promise to keep my secret. "
THAT I'll be hanged If 1 do, old boy;
the joke is great deal too good to keep
to myself. How about Gritty on Con-
tracts, and C Meeson and Welsby !?
Oh, you old impostor! I'll be hanged
if don't tell the story to every fellow
l meet
SO, for fear that the facts should be
misrepresented--I hate misrepresenta-
toni determined TO tell it myself
london Society.
Diving FOR DRINK. OF the hot.
test regions OF the earth is along the
Persian Gulf. where little or no rain
falls. At Bahrein the arid shore has nc
fresh water: yet Il comparative nnmer-
II