St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-03-11
HOW HE ARGUED BOTH SIDES.

Kish Bafflequirk- memory is still
green on the Juniper Ridge circuit-like
the royal son of his ancient namesake,
fellows. He was the terror OF the older
lawyers and the admiration of the
younger With what delight we
4.boys''-most of us are pretty old boys
MDw-used to gather round when some
overbearing senior, accustomed to ride
over us rough shod, came in for good
"aCoolinq'' at old Bats hands! On
such occasions we invariably felt re-
newed faith in the existence OF a scheme
of retribution for the wicked.
1t was our settled belief that the
whole law, from Bracton to Blackstone,
with all its modern Improvements, was
stored away in one or another corner OF
that shapely old head At any rate, no
one ever caught the old fellow tripping
No matter how suddenly point was
sprung, he was always found as ready
for it as if he had made it his special
study for month. As for playing any
trick upon him, bud Flasher was the
only one that ever tried it, and ms sue
cess wasn't such as to encourage imlta-
ton.
If there ever was a man wise IN his
own conceit, that man was Dudley
Flasher. He might have admitted, pos
sibly, that Mansfield and Marshall were
tolerable lawyers, considering their time,
and that Daniel Webster might have
acquitted himself less creditably in the
Dartmouth College case, but it would
have been with look plainly intimat-
inc that he knew man who would one
day eclipse them all-that is, if history
ever did him justice. As for Kish Bal
fequirk-pshaw!
One talent Mr.. Flasher undoubtedly
did possess, which, unlike him in the
parable, he didn't hide away in a nap
kin. Mr.. Flasher's talent consisted in
a liberal endowment of low cunning,
which he never suffered to rust for want
of use.
One evening group of lawyers sat
talking and smoking at the tavern door
in one of the circuit towns. Court was
to commence the next day, and the
lawyers and Judges were already on
hand.
1--WE a case I want you to argue to-
morrow, Mr.. Baffequirk," said Tom
Tylney, modest young attorney. Il
shall be detained away till the after
noon, probably; but here's a brief OF the
facts and points of law, so you can go
on without me.
Old Baff slipped the brief into side
pocket of his box-coat, and proceeded
with the story with which he was anus
ing the company.
It so happened that a little entertain
ment was given that night by the local
bar to their visiting brethren, at which,
of course, Mr.. BafHequirk was az
honored guest. Indeed, bar supper
without Old Baff would have been
thought as fiat as the Comedy of Errors
with both the Dromios omitted.
Everybody was astonished to see how
obseauiously agreeable bud Flasher
tried to make himself to Old Baff. 1t
was well known that no love had ever
been lost between them. But on this
particular occasion, Dud scarcely left
the old gentleman's side. At supper he
managed to get next him, and seemed
to be intent on one object-to applaud
the old lawyers Jokes, and see that his
glass was never empty. Il ~ \
Mr.. Flasher had another object, how.
ever. He was on the other side of the
case in which, as he knew, Tom Iylney
had given Old Baff his brief, and il
happened that the brief was in the
pocket next to Mr.. Flasher. 1t was
easy. therefore, for the latter to slip out
Tom brief, and replace it with his OWL
"a feat which he accomplished with 8
deyterity the Artful Dodger might have
envied.
bud could hardly keep from rubbing
his hands with glee as he thought O
Old BAIT coming into court next morn
ing and making strong speech agains
his own client. OF course, he woule
know nothing of the case or the party
he appeared for, but what he gathered
from the brief, and the one aaoaO in hi
pocket, it need hardly be said. was fol
the side he wasn't on.
The first case called after court opened
was that in which Old Baff held the
substituted brief The courthouse was
tanned, for Old Baff, however dry
might be the case, never failed to draw
a crowd. :,
bud Flasher's smirk Of self-concei1
was more pronounced than ever. How
.could he think of matching himself
AGAINST Old Bafp But wouldn't he
catch it soon?
IT was q suit in chancery, the evidence
all being in dispositions, which were
read over in sing-song tone; aftel
which Old Baff rose to address the
court, We had no intimation before O
what side he was to speak for, but fell
a little disappointed to find it was the
one that seemed to US to be wrong.
The Judges appeared to have the
same impression, for they exchanged
ineredulous chances, and shook theil
heads and buzzed together awhile be