Omaha daily bee., 1885-11-07
THE IDLE LAWYER.

i''lIl'ht u EduulN -NIPSNcu Top, SPIN
ming into the gutter, much to the dctri.
mcnt OF his tine apparel, and served him
right for insulting an unprotected girl,
whose hurried steps and timid manner
betrayed her uneasincss at being alone
on the street ut such an hour.
Having done his duty in the premises,
and waiting to see the bcSpattcred cox
comb pick himself up ungraccfully and
stink away abashcd and cowcd. Ned
Armour turned to see what had become
of his protcge,
She stood trembling, as though fright
had arrested her steps. Her pale face,
on which the light of Il nCighboring
lamp Glanced TO fall, was of surprising
beauty, and Ned being a knight as
gallant as brave, begged permission to
see her safe home.
In a sweet, gentle voice, with n
slightly foreign tinge, she accepted the
offer, and the two walked ON together,
for the most part, silently.
"Will you not come in, sir?" said the
girl, stopping at the door of Il plain-look.
ing house. My father, | am sure, will
wish to thank you for the kind service
you have rendered. He is al invalid,
aud 1t was an errand TO procure him
some n~ecessaries that took me out to.
Ned accepted the invitation and that
was the beginning of his acquaintance
with M. Bertrand and his charming
daughter Maria.
Ned Armour was the junior of n law
firm of which his uncle, Mr.. Banting,
was the head. He had little love for the
profession, but had entered it to please
his uncle, to whom he owed everything,
his rearing included. 1t is safe 10 say
that after the adventure Just related he
spent two evenings in the society OF Maria
and her father to one passed with Coke
IL Blackstone.
Nj. Bertrand was an old soldier of the
first empire, who, with the fall of his
chief, had lost all; and driven into exile
with his infant child, he had wandered
from country to country in the hope TO
mend his fortune. Now, lis daughter
and himself had no other dependence
than the earnings of the former, who
turned to the best account she could her
proficiency in music by giving private
lessons.
Ned would gladly have assisted his
friends from his own purse had he known
how to do SO without giving OilCnSc to the
proud old soldier.
Owe been thinking of II wife for you, -
said Ncd's uncle II morning, us the two
sat together in the seniors private Office.
so have |" replied Ned.
"Ahcm!" returned the uncle.
I've picked out one for myself, " said
Ned, that is, provided | can obtain her
consent"
1.-The deuce you have" exclaimed the
head of the firm, who had always re-
garded the question as II within his
own exclusive jurisdiction.
There is no knowing to what a pitch
the discussion would have reached but
for the entrance of two gentlemen, who
came to consult Mr.. BnntIng.
a Frenchmcn, a stranger, it seemed
had died suddenly while on Il visit to this
city some years before, leaving a large
sum OF money. One of the two gentle
men present had been appointed trustee
OF the fund, INT the other claimed TO be
next of kin to the deceased, whose cousin
he asserted himself TO be.
The deceased spoke of having Il
brother, " said the trustee, in search OF
whom he wa travelling"
Yes, his brother Antoine" said the
other, who abscOnded from tins country
years ago, and of whose death | have am.
pie proofs"
The papers were submitted to Mr..
Bunting, who promised to examine them
and give his opinion e day, ut which
time, if everything was regular, the
money would be turned over to the
claimant.
1t wasn't often that Ned paid much at,
tcntion to the business OF the Office, but
blSlillOh VI - bAlh III bhl a. lllt
colioquy caused him to prick up his ears
while seemingly busy with the morning
paper, and five minutes later he was rum
ming ut full speed to the house OF his
friend, the Bertrands.
AT the appointed hour next morning
the same W gentlemen came to ieat
Mr.. Banting's decision. Ned, as before,
had the morning paper before him, but
kept Il sharp ear turned.
"lbpSp DaDprS nDDpar to be all ripbf '
observed Mr., Banting. Il have scruti,
nized them carefully and find nothing
wanting"
Then it only remains to pay over the
money, ! suppose, said the heir expect
amt, rubbing his hands.
Nothing more" replied Mr.. Bunting
The trustee produced his accounts,
showing the sum on hand, which had
been largely enhanced by accruing inter.
est. and was beginning to draw Il check
for the amount, when Ned Armour threw
aside his paper and strobe forward.
Don't he too fastl' he exclaimed.
1t was the first time Ned had ever in.
terfe ed in Il business consultation and
his uncle looked up surprised.
why, what do you know about it?'
asked the latter.
Eve II witness in my private room |
think you'd better examine before pro
oeeding further, F" answered Ned.
walt Il mOnent, ana III BRING HIM y
Ned stepped out and returned immcdi.
ately, eScorting an intirm old man, whose
eye flashed rs it fell on the covering
c~ountcnance of the would-bc heir.
Tell these gentlemen who you are, "
said Ned, though one Of them doesn't
seem TO need the informatiOn."
~ am Antoine Bertrand" replied the
old man, proudly, "tle brother and heir
OF him on whose fortune this base wretch
seeks to lay his lawIess grasp. II was
this william, when the star of my Illus
trous chiet went down at Waterloo, vino,
through perjury and falschood, drove me
into exile, and received, as the reward
of his perfidy, my entire wealth. The
proofs he now presents arc as false rs
those he manufactured then, but | have
documents here which will leave no
doubt rs 10 my right"
The false heir did not remain to see in
spcctcd the packet OF papers which the
old man presented. Suffice tito say they
were found in all respects correct. Marie
Bertrand was nov "A match for the veal.
thirst man in the land, and when Ned
told his uncle that it was she whom he
had picked out for Il wife, the old gen
tlcman didn't object neither did Marie
nor her father, and Ned Armour lived
for many years, the happiest of hus.