Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-08-07

Successful, S~tratagesn.
{ Litt1cton Coke, a leading lawyer Of
thc Gomstock, is, outside of a court
room, one of the mildest-mannered
mon that ever cut up a witness or an
lntcstatc estate. Off his legitimate bat
Sic ground, and in ordinary walks OF
life, Littlcton Coke is patient and long
su1ering-would not even utter a word
shat would disturb the serene rapacity
of q gas-fitter. He could smilingly
listen by the hour to q querulous old
woman, complaining that faces were
pulled at her by the children of &
ncighbor, yet he had for a time tribu-
lations that narrowed his soul down to
its lowest levels.
Through pretense of business in the
beginning, two men became visitors to
his snug and quie, s%econd-foor office,
who presently developed from their
>chrysalis state of mere rapid maun-
esderers into such intense and active
azores that they became the terror of
this life. They were men who possessed
1.-The faculty OF discoursing with much
:. spirit and v~olubility for whole hours
g. upon the ''incongruousness of incon-
sgruity." the ''womanly nature of
women" and other interesting and in
>structire subjects.
Poor Coke! this 'afliction sore long
time he bore'' without being able to
devise any plan whereby he might rid
.hamself Of the par who were bringing
''down his gray hairs in sorrow to the
grave" So deeply did the presence of
the twin borcs affect him that his heart
sank and his soul sickcned at the bare
. appearance of either of his persecu-
tors.
One day, When n of these tireless
''storeadoers," whose name may be writ
ten JONES'" was drilling the lawyer
through and through, causing him to
sweat blood-all regardless OF a ma
lign GOODNESS that shone in the legal
eye-thc conversation turned upon gar
rulity.
Although 4 perfect magpie himself.
Jones at once asserted that, above all
other things. he abhorred a ]loquacious
person, man or woman. 'Of course,'
said he, one must expect tongue-wag-
Eing in the case of s woman, but con-
slant gable from a man / can not ell
dure.h
"Did it never occur to you. JONES'"
said the lawyer. 'that you are yourself
a pretty industrious talker, and you
arc by IN suspected OF having kissed
1.-The Blarney stone?"
'What, mc!!' cried Jones. s'Why
sir, I am really q man of very few
words. In most companies l am sure
that I am altogether too reserved and
reticent; that through my silence, taci-
sturnity and observation-disclosures 1 am
frequently suspected Of being. in some
sort, a spy upon those present; in fact,
that cause among those in the
"a feeling of uneasiness and depres-
sion"
THAT, sir, no IL will dispute" said
Littleton Coke, dryly.
The lawyer had seated himself at his
open front window, both in order to
obtain some relief by gazing out into
the street and that the fresh air might
fan his brow and cool his rising wrath.
CHANGING far down the street he saw, a
block or more away, Mr.. Smith bore
No. 2. This was ipecacuanha upon
castor oil! 1t was plain to Littleton
Coke that the twin bore was heading
Cor his Office.
A sudden thought flashed across his
brain. Turning to Jones he said: sit
naay be all as you say, but the proof of
t1he pudding is in the eating. Now,
yust for the fun of the thing, and to
prove to you that you do not know
Yourself, III bet you SIS that you can
not go into that closet and remain
there half am hour without speaking or
coming out"
.IH take the bet" cries Jones. with
~rivacity. II am as sure of the money
as i'll already had it in my pocket.
What time is it now?'
-tJust half past two o'clock. If you
do not speak OF come forth you'll have
won your money at three o'clock.
Bear in mind. however, that you are to
remain in the closet with the door
elosed-in the dark you know-for halt
IN hour, and that you are neither Il
.xEaak nor come out no matter what
may occur.
"Quite satisfactory; but you are not
% set the house on fire, nor are you to
Src your revolver through the closet
ioor."
'.Nonsense!"
~"And you are to call me exactly at
hree o'clockp" .O.. o..
Most assuredly-to the minute.
Also, you shall have a chair while in
Ae closet. | will not require you to
..tand." .
Jones had but just been snugly seat
I'd in the closet and the door closed
npon him. when Smith came putting up
she stairs.
Both Smith and Jones are dabblers
m stocks-curbstone brokers and street
,orner capitalists. Both value them
selves highly as experts in all manner
~ mining matters.