The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-07-02
"That's all ready-finished it just rs


business, Tom, I'll speak good ord
for you to my husband.
Thank you, Mrs. Crosby"
"TwO things are disposed of, then
habeas corpus and the writ of replevin.
Do you know our pretty seamstress,
TOm?"
Mr. Pettifogger colored to the very
climax of his forehead, and said "y-c-s,"
i'll very peevish manner
"Help me, Tom, and I'll help you.
Have you had Il quarrel with that young
lady lately?"
"Day before neutrality-suspicious.
I'm afraid she won't come around right
again."
"Never fear; I'll warrant you in that
quarrel; we'll bring her round i'll no
time, Tom; but-bnt-I must get
through with the list"
"I'll put you through it by-by-"
"Ah, Tom, don't swear"
"Well, / don't know what Ill this
means; but blast me-that ain swearing,
ma am-if 1 don't do my best for you in
any way you name"
Margaret is a fine girl-next comes
the qlit-claim deed. You have got
blanks ready to fill up, doubtless
Exactly"
dip your pen and dash it off," added
Mr.. Crosby.
While Pettifogger was filling up the
deed for Styles, in popped Capt. Saun-
ders to take advice concerning an action
for damages brought against him by
James Jones.
"My husband is not in ut this mo-
ment, Captain" said Mrs. Crosby.
"Please sit down and wait for little
while"
Now, our heroine was pretty woman,
and had exceedingly captivating man
ners, which were generally pleasing to
the other sex. The captain was not at
all averse to waiting awhile" with much
satisfaction.
"Please tell me something about this
difficulty of yours, Captain. / should
like to know the particulars, for do you
know that have studied law extensively
MYSELF" continued the squire's wife with
pleasant smile.
Saunders was quite willing to relate
his story to such listener, and so
straightway unbosomed himself. He de-
clared that his neighbor Jones swine
had trespassed upon his grounds. de-
stroying at certain times sundry quanti-
ties of corn and potatoes, and to indem-
Nifty himself he had taken one of said
quadrupeds, for which the owner had
brought an action.
81 can tell you what to do i'll this case
precisely as well as the squire himself"
said Mrs. Crosby, smiling still more
pleasantly. "What was the animal
worth, do you suppose ?" she asked.
"Just about six dollars, Mrs. Crosby"
"What do you imagine the whole
affair will cost if it goes to trial ?"
Twenty or $50, perhaps"
"Then the cheapest way will be to
to leave me 80 and I'll settle the case,
captain" added the lady, with smile
that was really bewitching.
The captain unused moment, and then
exclaimed, "I1l do it! Blow me, if l
don't believe you can settleit if anybody
cant"
The captain left the money and de-
parted. The moment he had gone note
was dispatched to Farmer Jones, re-
glesting him to step up to the Office.
While Tom was engaged on the writ of
Brown VIZ. Smith, Jones made his up
pearancc, and the swine affair was set
tied for$7.
The letters of Miss Briggs were exam
ined, and nothing like promise of mar
riage could be made out of them. Mrs.
Crosby Immediately wrote to that young
lady advising her to drop the prosecution
of the case, as there was no reasonable
hope for her succeeding even if the letters
were the only evidence i'll the premises.
Higgins bill was sent and Tom wrote q
threatening letter to Thompson, but how
was she TO ''terrify Joe Bunker the
item next on the programme?
"Nothing easier" said Tom. "Write
and tell him his case will come on in d
few days; that will bring him right to
settlement"
Pettifogger was instructed to write
note to that effect, and also respectively
invite Col. Drummer to call and settle
Major Green's bill. As the witness had
not come to depose in the SANDER csse,
Virgins VS.. Briggs, the fair lawyer and
willing clerk passed on to the next item.
"TO get up an issue between Town
send and Ferris. Don't that mean
quarrel, Tom?"
"Just that" said Tom.
"Well, then let us prevent it by all
means "
"We have only to let it stand us it is,
then, for they are peaceable fellows that
won't quarrel by themselves"
distress the widow Sanburn comes
next. Is that right. Tom?"
"The squire had orders to lay an at
tachment ON her things" said Tom, by
way of explanation.
"For what?"
because she can't pay some kind of
humbug bill brought against her by
that swindler Sampson.
"Can'tth unjust action be quashcd ?"
at ought to be, ut any rate. 1t can
be put off long enough to give the widow
warning.Of what is going on, 80 that she
can put her things out of his reach, d" re-
piled Tom.
"PettifOgger, you are treasure?
Just run over and give the widow n sly
piece of advice, and then will help you
make out damages in the case of Folger
and Folsom"
1t was thus that Mrs. Crosby went on,
and by noon, with the able assistance of
Tom, had reached the last three items,
viz: "Kick Bill Buzzleton (of the firm
of Buzzleton g. Buggs) out of the Office;
browbeat Mrs. Chandler, and tweak
Johnson's nose"
"Now, as none of these persons are
present, what am l TO do ?" inquired Mrs.
Crosby, looking archly Mt Tom.
"Why, just us the squire would--wait
till they come it."
Exactly; but it il now about the hour
of dinner, and if people can't come in at
proper business hours, how can they
expect to be kicked down stairs, brow
beaten, or twealed? So, my young
friend, we will go to dinner. You will
not be wanted this afternoon, therefore
you need not return to the office but
amuse yourself in any way you please
by going to see Margaret, perhaps.
Lock the Office and give me the key; l
won't forget your services.
On her return, our gentle attorney
met her seamstress, and, having some
work to consult her about, asked her
home to dinner. AS soon as she entered
the house, she knocked ut the door and
said, laconically, "Ready for dinner"
What ludicrous spectacle met her
vision, Mr.. Crosby with a segment of a
squash in one hand and potato in the
other.
81 have brought friend home to
dinner, Mr.. Crosby" added the lady
1.-THE deuce you have" cried the
squire, elevating two VIGOROUSLY dirty
eyebrows, half in vexation, and half in
wonder at his wife's gravity.
"How soon will dinner be ready ?" she
continued. drawing forth her watch with
the air of one in n hurry.
"Judging by present APPEARANCES. i,