Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-09-15

gave her wha. poor consolation could
for lawyers, like doctors, must keep their
! patients courage up at times.
''In the first place, III see Messrs Man
gle & Meek said. ''Mr. Mangle may
be brought TO hear reason, after all-if he
can only be made to see his interest IN it.
The pale, respondent face cheered up a
little. My words seemed to have inspired
sort of underlined hope that l was far
from feeling myself.
Mr.. Mangle received me with stony po.
/ liteness.
"Young man." his manner said, ''don't
waste time in appeals to sentiment; you
won't, if you'll only look at me-"
took the hint and came at once to busi-
ness, repeated GIlbert's offer and put 1t as
strongly as possible that more was to be
gained by leniency than harshness-all of
which Mr.. Mangle listened to with con-
| scientious scowl.
II cannot be party to compounding
felony, :" he answered with solemn intona-
| tom
Nor have | asked you to-" / replied,
not little nettled. ~ have merely men,
toned plan of paying back your own,
| leaving it to your generosity to press or
not to press this prosecution
''0h, it is all the same, was the con-
temptuous rejoinder- nybody but law
yer with his head full of quibs and quib-
lets could see that. Besides there is some
! thing rather cool 10 retain your friend in
our employ under pretence of working out
the money he has stolen, with the oppor-
tunity of filchlng twice as much in the
meantime.
felt my temper rising, and not caring
to imperil my clients interest by an out
right quarrel, took hasty leave.
Had | been in the prisoners place on
the morning fixed for the trial | could
hardly have ascended the courthouse steps
with more reluctance than l did. And
when entered the courtroom and found
Gilbert and his wife already there, and
noted the hopeful look with which the
latter greeted my coming, sickened at the
thought of the bitter disappointment
coming.
The people vs.. Gilbert" called out the
Judge, after disposing of seme formal mat
tiers.
A jury was Immediately lmpanelled and
the case opened by the district attorney.
Mr.. Meek was the first witness. The
nervous, hesitating manner in which he
gave his evidence would have greatly dam
aged the effect il it had not evidently
arisen from disposition to do the prisoner
as little hurt as possible. But no soften
ing could break the terrible force of facts
he was compelled TO relate.
In the partners absence he had employ
ed George Gilbert as clerk; had found him
competent and trustworthy; had sent him
on a trip to make collections; after receiv-
ing a considerable sum, he was induced by
a respectable looking gentleman to whom
he had casually fallen in 10 join a social
game of cards; at first they played for
amusement, then for money, and after
losing all his own, in the hope of retrieving
his loss, with the fatal iRfatuation of that
dreadful vice whose END is swift destruction
he had hazarded and lost the last dollar he
had in trust for his employers.
Mr. Meek's voice faltered as he closed
something to the prisoners gocd character.
when dlsapproving glance from Mr..
Mangle brought him to a halt.
Just then the prisoner CHANGED TO turn
his head, and catching glimpse of the
senior partner, who had just entered, and
was standing among the crowd, he started
quickly, then whispered hurriedly in my
ear.
Turn aside your face" whispered
back. And the case for the prosecution
being closed the justice Inquired;
''Have you any witness for the defencel"
II will call Hezekiah Mangle, II replied.
A buzz of surprise greeted the announce
ment, in the midst of which Mr.. Mangle
stepped forward and was sworn:
"You have been absent for the past year
Mr.. Mangle?" began.
81 have
"rraveling in foreign partsl"
''Yes, SIR
''The prisoner was employed by your
partner in your absence, and was arrested
about the time of your Ieturni"
''Such was the case"
''Have you ever seen him?"
'sNot to my knowledge"
''Or met him in your travelsfn
If he will turn his head tins way / can
tell better"
1T illN blNllu- NlloNIt tuuACu anu ldtSu
the witness.
The effect was electrical. Mr.. Mangle
turned red and pale by turns.
Zone other question, Mr.. Mangle," |
resumed. Do you recognize in this priso-
ner young man from whom you won a
thousand dollars at poker while on your
travels?">and named the time and place
at which the young man had met with the
misfortune.
Cowardice performed the Office of con-
science, and the truth came out. The
firms money, which George Gilbert had
lost, had been won by the senior part
ner; and the court instructed the jury hiatt,
as the sum IN question had actually been
delivered to one of the joint owners, who
was bound to account to his associate, the
prisoner could not be convicted.
God bless you Mr.. Parker." faltered
the happy little wife. 81 knew you would
bring us out all right
1t was evident the truthful woman's ma
ture gave me al the credit of the result in
whose achievement my share had been
next to nothing.
The lesson was not lost on George Gil
bert. His first false step was the last, and
the richest fee | ever received was the
heartfelt gratitude of his noble, faithful
wife