The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-09-02
THE RIGHT BOWER.

1t was Judge Lurington's own expression
Half dozen lawyers, fresh from their
studies, and Just admitted to the bar, were
listening to his advice. The old Jurst had
hottie of wine ut his elbow, and was IN com.
municative mood.
"Young men, he said, "whatever may be
your strait, never take a case before jury or
before any court unless you have your right
bower for lead"
If the reader surmiscs from this that the
old Judge was fond Of euchre, he Will not
have surmised amiss.
The Young men looked ut him inquiringly.
III mean" he added, 'that you shall never
advocate cause into the work Of which you
cannot enter with clear conscience. You
shall never accept client whose cause you
do not believe to be just"
"Can that rule always be adhered to"
asked one Of the listeners
at can" answered burlington, emphatl.
cally. ut is lawyers firm rock OF found.
alton, and the only sure point of departure to
the respect and confidence of his fellows
"Have you always followed that rule,
judgeY
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 Leban Sarfurt. He was OF
middle.age, welldressed and at first sight ap
peared 10 be a gentleman; but the Illusion
was dispellcd when approaching business
lie was hard and unfeeling and naturally &
villain Success in speculation had saved
him from becoming thief or highway
man. ! heard of him as heavy dealer IL
the upriver lands lie asked me if wa
willing to undertake job which would cal
me TO Shlreton. told him / was open t.
ANYTHING legitimate that would pay"
"Mr burlington" said he, tapping me will
course familiarity upon the arm, 81 want L
secure your services; you must not be en-
gagged on the other side.n
II told him if he would explain to me IN,
case might be better able to give him al
answer. He bit an enormous quid of Tobacco,
from a black plug and having got it int
shape between his jaws, he went on with hi
story
"The case was one ofejectmeAt. An elderl,
man, named Phillip Acton. had died leavinl
valuable estate. There was nearly thOus
and acres of land with opportunities for dc
yeloping immense water power, and er
many years that land would be worth NOR
than a million dollars. Al present upon In
estate, and claiming it as a son of the dc
ceased, was man calling himself William
Acton.n
"But," said Sarfurt, "he is not a legitmat
child at all. His mother was Betsy TotwooC
at one time a girl in Actions employ. Actor
/ know, was never married. He brougl
the boy up and educated him, and now III
fellow thinks he will step into his protector
shoes. | can prove that am the only Twin
relative of Phillip Acton. He was my uncl
my mothers brother--and, TO a lawyer 1
smart as you, there can be no difficulty
proving my title. can bring the wItnesst
10 your hand"
lie told rae he would give me FIVE hundre
dollars i'll would undertake the case, and a
additional thousand if gained. That was
big fee-far more than had then made in Il
my pleading 1t was tempting. And yet
saw that II was not yet perfectly clear-n'