St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-03-11

fore settling down to liSten-which
they did, finally, with look That clear
ly said:
g Bamboozle as, if you can, sir!''
Nothing ever put Old Baff on his
mettle like finding the Court against
him at the start. And now, he had an
opportunity to take the conceit out OF
bud Flasher, and he meant to improve
it.
The old lawyer drew himself to his
full height, and steadily and calmly
met the discouraging chances cast from
the bench. Then he proceeded, IN his
most persuasive manner, and with sur
prising subtlety of argument. to sur
mount one difficulty after another, till,
what to all had seemed the worse, as if
by some magic transformation. began to
appear the better reason.
The rigid faces of the Judges per-
ceptiblv relaxed. A look of conviction
took the place of that of distrust and
doubt Old Baff saw the victory was
won, and was just beginning a glow
ing peroration, when Tom Tylney en-
tered. He sat down to listen; but almost
the first sentence caused him to start
with amazement, and spring to Old
Baff's side.
"For Heavens sake!'' he whispered
&c what the meaning Of this? You re
arguing for the other siden'
Il am only following your brief,
Old Baff whispered back.
"No! no!-you're retained for the de-
PENDANT, and here you are doing your
best for the plaintiff!'
Old Baff saw it all. He quite under
stood now bud Flasher's last night at
tentions.
Whispering Tom to sit down and keep
his countenance, the accomplished adj
vocate paused moment and proceeded:
81 hare moaO, may it please your Hon.
ors, presented the uieocs aciaich a0llt be
atrged ON the other side. My learned
friend this with Chesterfieldian bow
to Mr.. Flasher with the frankness OF
one seeking to gain no advantage by
surprise, kindly exchanged briefs with
me last night; and think / have fully
and fairly stated all his points. Now
| let us see how little there is in them"
Then turning on his own previous ar
guments, he stripped them Of their
sophistry with mastery skill. Thus
laid bare, they seemed like cobwebs
which a breath might blow aside. Be
fore the relentless logic which now con-
fronted them they were as flax before
the flame.
Old Bats blood was now up, and he
was on the right side, to boot. He saw
the Court was again with him, but he
didn't stop. He poured on Flasher and
his client a torrent of keen invective
that drew upon them scowls of indigna
ton. Then, with inimitable wit, he
held them up to ridicule, till shouts o.
derisive laughter drowned his voice.
Flasher's plan, before it was marrec
by Tom Tylney's premature return, hae
Now he was taken all aback. For once
his confidence deserted him. Con
founded and abashed, he rose and STAN
mered through few sentences. Blu
what could he say that his opponen
hadn't already said far better, and ther
demolished beyond the hope of recon
struction? He gave it up and sat down
The presiding Judge exchanged nod
with his fellows, and after announcing
the opinion of the Court that the plain
tiff had no cause of action, he reat
Flasher a lecture on the subject of stir
ring up groundless suits that made ever
his cheeks Jingle.
bud never ran another tilt agains
Old Baf, and never sat beside him a
another bar supper.--N. Y. Ledger.