The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-09-27

QOQf OF breakfast QaQ DeCOmo STauu-
ally later, and short pipes and tweed
Jackets had become the order of the
day until luncheon, and sometimes, I
fear, even until dinner time. In our
earlier days We had made it point of
honor that one or other of us should al
ways remain in chambers, so as to be
ready for anything that might turn up,
but now we made nothing of putting up
the delusive notice: "Return in five
minutes" and departing together for the
rest of the day. In order, however, to
keep up the pleasant fiction thai we
still expected to have clients some day
We had made bet. Each OF us had
backed himself for e5 to get the first
brief, with the proviso that (if ever the
bet should be decidedD the winner to
stand a dinner to the loser, in order to
commemorate the event. Imagine our
emotion, therefore, when on the morn
ing of my story, soon after ten, heavy
step was heard to ascend the staircase
and pause at our door and when Blobbs
(who had been, according to his usual
habit, settling a little difficulty with
Cocksure's boy upon the landing) rushed
in, and in hoarse whisper said, frantic
with excitement:
ga gentleman for Mr.. Browne And
he've got q bundle O papers.
must say that Armitage's behavior
did him credit. My landing the first
prize must naturally have been disap-
pointment to him but in the most mag
unanimous way he exclaimed
"Good for you, old man! Go in and
win. I'll hook it into the next room
and leave the coast clear for you"
And he bolted accordingly into his
bedroom. l would have given much to
have been able to assume more digni-
fed attire, and to straighten things gen.
orally, before the entrance OF my client,
but it was out of the question. I had
only just time to pitch the end of my
cigar in the fire, open one of the big law
books upside down, as I afterward dis
covered), and to compose my features
into the most professional expression
compatible with q flannel jacket and
carpet slippers, when the visitor en-
tered. he was short, puffy little man,
middle aged, and of good naturedly
unintellectual cast of countenance. He
wore a shabby white hat and greasy
black gloves, and his trousers were
shorter and his umbrella fatter than is
genera ly considered desirable in those
articles; but, Notwithstanding, there
was an air of snug responsibility about
him, and the bundle of papers, tied
with red tape, which he carried, had an
eminently business-like appearance.
He began:
"I must apologize for disturbing you
at this early hour, Mr.. Browne (he was
evidently not high-class practitioner);
" but the TACT is, I have come to beg
your assistance in a very urgent case"
tried to look as if very urgent cases
were matters OF the most ordinary oc-
currence in my professional experience.
"Ah," said, "quite SO. Take seat,
Ward, sir; Gibbons & Ward, of
High street, Bloomsbury. You have
heard the name, daresay. Gibbons is
dead-has been dead some years, in
fact but we keep up the old name, you
know"
I didn't know in the least. I had
never to my knowledge heard of Glib
bons & Ward, but it would not do to al
NIT the fact. Not to know Gibbons &
Ward would clearly be to argue myself
unknown. I took my cue accordingly.
"Oh, yes Gibbons & Ward, a most
eminent firma I am delighted to have
the pleasure of making your acquain-
tence, Mr.. Ward"
"You are very kind, sir. Well, sir,
rs I was saying, or rather as l was about
to say, have become connected with
case, very peculiar case-indeed,
most peculiar case and hearing OF you
from my old friend Mr.. Wiggins, l
thought that, though I'm stranger to
you myself, I might venture to call and
ask you to assist me in it."
"Dear me-" I thought, "whoever
would have thought of old Wiggins (my
hair dresser) sending me client! And
on the principle that one good turn de
serves another, 1 mentally resolved to
go and have my hair cut the very next
day. I replied
ct shall be very happy, Mr.. Ward.
Have you the particulars in writing ?"
"Well, not exactly" said Mr.. Ward,
his bundle of papers in his
hat. 81 have few -onah memoranda,
but I'll tell you in bali dozen words
the stase of the case. The party I rep
resent is . Mrs. Podgers, and [ think
you'll agree with me that she has been
very badly used. The fact is, she was
the daughter of an old fellow named
Club, in the oil aud color trade, a
man reputed to be worth mint OF
money. When she married Podgers,
who was pork butcher in small way
of business, Podgers naturally wanted
to know what the old man would do for
them. A little ready money would have
been very acceptable, and as they knew
that Susan Chats Mrs. Podger's) was
the only daughte and would come in
for all the old mans money as his death,
they didn't see why he shouldn't give
'em little at once, on account like.
But old Glubb wasn't to be had in that
way. No. he says, if you marry
Susan, when die you'll have all I've
got, which may be ten thousand or it
may be twenty; but I'm not agoing to
undress before go to bed, as the say
ing isl Soupon that, and quite relying
that the old man would keep his word,
Podgers goes and marries. They all
knew the old man couldn't last very
long, so on the strength of his expecta-
tions Podgers puts in new shop win
dow and starts pony trap. Trade was
bad and PodgArs found himself outrun-
ming the constable bit; but he didn't
mind, feeling sure it would be all right
when the old man went off the hooks. y
1 began to see my wa. Podgers had
married on the strength of the old g. n
tleman's promise. and the old gentle
man had subsequently changed his
mind. Here was an opportunity of I'M
pressing Mr.. Ward with my legal acu-
men.
"Excuse my interrupting you one
moment, Mr.. Ward" and ] rupg the
bell. Blobbs entered. "Blobbs, give
me sChitty on Contracts, and then 60
and ask Mr.. Cocksure's clerk to oblige
me with the loan of the sixth volume OF
'Meeson and Welsby.' I 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 mantelpiece Immediately behind
me, and departed to execute the re-
mainder of my order. I referred to the
index, murmuring audibly: econ
Observation-Disclosures