Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-04-15
A FINANCIAL FEAT.
How a Simple Girl and Lawyer
Accomplished It.

Enio Ford with toar-staincd face sal
amid pile of formidable documents
She was in deep mourning. Only one
week before, she had laid away the re
mains of her only surviving relative. IL
the shadow Of the cross-crowned churcl
over tho hill. II was dismal prospect
for a girl Of seventeen. and ono who wai
absolutely ignorant Of business. The
Fords had always lived in luxury. Bu
on his dcath-hcd, Mr.. Ford called Eli,
20 him; his articulation was imperfect
but she caught: "Bad Investments
mortgage bonds. Poorl Poor
Barker viii tell YOU" A few gasps and
II was over.
All day she had tried to bring order
out Of chaos. At last with n sigh she
tossed the golden fringes from her fore.
head, as il even their light weight was
an oppression.
ut Is useless" she murmured, ~ can
make nothing of anything Then
suddenly she remembered: "Barkcr will
tell you" The memory came with a
sigh Of relief.
A servant answered the bell
Take this 20 Mr.. Barker" she or
dercd, "and wait for an answer"
IL came in less than an hour.
''Mr. Barker will wait upon Miss
For'l at five" She glanced at the clock
il lacked five minutes Of the hour.
Barker WAS n lawyer in the same
town. She had always Known him, and
she remembered that he had been with
her father frequently before she went
10 school for the last time. As he en-
tered. Efiie started. She had thought
of him as rather elderly. but the man
who stood before her was extremely
handsome. and perhaps double her sew
entcen years.
''You are kind, Mr.. Barker, to re-
spond so promptly. did not know
what 10 do, 10 whom TO turn. / can
make nothing Of papa's papers, she
sighed wearicdly.
''Of course. What can you know
about lawP" and together they turned
10 the pcrplcNing pile.
Barker ran his eve over paper after
paper. and startled look came into
his eyes, keen lawyers though they
were
''Are these ALP" he asked.
~ believe so. Papa kept his papers
in that secretary; and, Mr.. Barker.
know from what he said. that there
were losses-that / shall not be very
well on. | do not mind" she said
quickly, "other people are poor, why
not I?"
'-Some lossesl Not as well Off as she
had beenr' lie regarded her queerly.
Poor childi Did she know that house.
iar.s, even the costly furniture was
cciered with mortgages? No, and he
determined she never should know. He
had no living relatives, and why should
he not do for this helpless girl what he
would have liked some one 20 do for
sister or wife OF his?
There will be something left after
the debts are paid. will there not?"
The pretty pathetic ewes looked
squarely into his. He could not answer
this child-woman with evasion. ''If
YOU will trust TO me, Miss Ford, i will
do my best. Your father trusted me
upon several occasions" UIe did not
add. II that father had been guided by
his judgment his daughter would not
now be penniless) ''and am confident
/. know more Of the business than any
One else" lie waited her reply.
20, yes. aud thank you. Mr.. Baker" ="
With childish. trustful motion, she
slipped her hand in his. Barker's cX-
perience with women was bounded by
aggressive little widows. aud soul-ter-
rifying Sally Brasses'. and there was n
queer little flutter in his manner as be
bid her good night
kr. Ford's affairs were in n hopeless
tangle. Ruin was inevitable. Such
was Bakers verdict after reperusal
of the Ford papers. Poor little
thingl" he whispered TO himself; ''she
shall mover know n can help II.
Out OF those deeds and mortgages
seemed 10 start the vision Of home
Eden, where certain eyes looked into
his with bewildering love. BAIL What
have sentimental love-dreams in com
mon with an austere lawyers oiiice'
A puzzled face appeared at the Office
OF Barker & Hawkins one day, not
long after.
~ am sorry 10 worry you; but sec
horel Ellic produced slip n paper
which she held toward him. II stated
the existence OF note, covering ten
thousand dollars, principal and inter-
est. held By ole Isaacs & Tobias,
brokers In ncighboring city.
''When did you receive thisP" He
avoided looking at the captivating face
rs much rs possible.
To-day; and, Mr.. Barker. II must
be paid. The ten thousand you saved
for me will just cover it. VIII you do
Il for mcPn
\ Eyes, Miss Ford. II Is fortunate,
however. that / changed the invest
ment. BY the new arrangement Il has
dcnhlcd. You can pay this bill and
retain the same amount"
~ can? How nlce! ! thought |
would have 10 60 out as nurse'maid or
y. .-4sonolhing. Mr.. barker, when Is
your client coming, who owns the
houseP feel as III were an Intruder
somehow.
sYoa arc not. The favor is TO him.
lave hla word for H."
She still llngrrcl. ''Mr. Barker, you
lhryo been 20 Kind and good. l wish 1
could "a somelidng for you. II ! can
ever. win eou lct ncP'
tias. Miss, Ford y
Fl1o lcii iha 01icc with a queer dis
satisfied icellhgAal hor heart Down
DO dloNslng street, lllled with lazy
.bAdoAk she suolltI As She turned
corner she col(Hd With a rakish-
|aok|nf lollh. Ht\ pcoyered hlLiself
j. kllh rs anal.,es 4 Aafp was 1ucli
hrlk sA ~ b|nQ eyes,
.II ~ I. wi. ...... az. -.