The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-10-20

at the book-keeper saw that he had 10
sumed work with conscious look.
JoeI's face was flushed, and once OF
twice he acted as if he were going to
speak; then he put on his hat and went
out.
Without looking back John Earring
strobe up the street with set teeth
and walked into the law-office of Bowes
& Woodman. Judge Bower, a tall.
benignant looking man with moist
fair skin and sandy hair, was nodding
over newspaper, while his partner, q
little unkept and greasy of apparel, but
with keen amber-colored eyes, sharp
hooked nose, long, slightly retreating
forehead, long, claw-like fingers, sunk
en- cheeks, chewing nervously and spit
ting momentarily, sat writing vigor.
ousIy at q table. He looked much like
some old and rusty eagle as he sal
there, the most powerful advocate d
the region. He did not look up to see
who had entered, but spit quickly and
without much regard to the direction.
'Sit down." he said, with kind OF
gutteral jerk. and continued driving
his pen across the paper IN maze Of
dizzy hieroglyphics. Judge Bower
looked up with sleepy, pleasant salu.
tation, and requested the new conner to
be seated.
But John Earring remained standing
with his hat in hand, and directing his
query toward Judge Bower asked il
they could furnish him with something
to do.
"Why, I don't know" said Judge
Bower, laying down his newspaper,
1--WE have good deal of writing, per-
haps we might do something for you. !"
Old Woodman, as he was familiarly
called, turned his head over little
and glanced at the fine looking, clean
cut youth without staying his pen.
Whats the matter with the store?"
SAID he as he wrote.
81 have been dismissed" said John
Earring
Judge Bower moved about in his
big chair, and Woodman laid down
his pen and stretching out his legs be-
fore him ran his hands down deep into
his pockets and set his grizzly chin
against his chest. He looked keenly
at the youth. "What was the troublep"
he asked.
81 would prefer not to explain II
wholly, sir: 1t was not because | was
dishonest. +"
ut was the other fellow that was
dishonest, wasn't it?''
(Which? DO you mean the young
man who was discharged this morn
ingP"
mo; the big one-Joelr'
John Earling hesitated moment, then
said, gravely:" Mr.. Whitney has been
kind to me. I would rather not think
or speak of him in any other than a
grateful way. l owe him three years
Of service yet. sir, and as soon as l can
! wish to pay it.
The old lawyer scratched his grizzly
jaw, spit quickly, glanced at his part.
ner, and said: "Well, 1 guess we can
set you to work. Don't think you will
get rich, but it will keep you from,
starving"
He got up, whirled a table against
the wall, threw lot of legal-cap upon
it, laid some documents by the paper
and wheeled up chair.
"Now, youngma he said, ''whale
it to it!''
John EARRING smiled and thanked
him and sat down and began copying
the documents rapidly. Woodman sal
down, threw his legs upon a table,
thrust q cigar into his mouth and said:
"Now, Bower, I guess I'll smoke,
John Earring continued writing
through the remainder of the day. The
others came and went. In the even
ing the mild-mannered Bower said:
"Mr. Earring, you can go to supper
whenever you choose"
"Young man," broke in Woodman,
''haye you been to dinner to-day?"
"No, sir,' said John Earling, 81
forgot it.''
Old Woodman glanced at the Judge
and expectorated in most emphatic
manner
II would be glad to have you come
with me to tea,' said Judge Bower,
81 am just going now
"Thank you, SIR" said EARRING, 81
i" then he broke of. He seemed
not to have thought of his altered re-
latiors with Joel Whitney until then.
Il had not thought of where l should
liye," he said, with a smile. Then,
after a few moments: "Would you
pardon me, sir, if l asked if your
kindness might be considered as 3
charity?''
Certainly not, certainly not" said
Judge Bower, Il should be glad oil
your company"
They arose and went out. Old Wood.
man closed one of his eyes very tight
and Thought his fist down upon the
table with a crash. Fire! snap! grit
there's fighter for your he said
''What handfuls of hair he would
bring away!" then he leaned back in
his chair and scratched his jaw. "Cool
smooth, proud, and sharp as razor
Ought to be a lawyer! L-e-e-tle too hon.
est, though, I'm 'fraid. But what hail
he would bring away! Snum! snum
what h-a-i-r!" and the old lawyer thrus,
his hand out before him like a claw and
jerked it back as if he had Invested an
adversary of his scalp.
CHAPTER K.
The home of Judge Bower lay bacl
along the ridge; large, plain, home
like brick house, fanked on the one
hand by an immense flower-garden,
and on the other by a lawn and long
grape-arbor. In front was velvet
/ c,,roo,, Of ON, ooAL olo.n 81,