Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1888-02-15
CHAPTER XVII,
A LEGAL DISTINCTION.

"Ah, Mr., Breton, yes. yes, WA sure you
would como"
The lawyer pulled two chairs Together near
his Office table. John T. G.Gt.in-s had
changed great deal since tho timo when b.
undertook to engineer tue corporation
scheme. Apparently he was going down hill
very fast, without brakes LIS eyes wore q
CLASSY look, as if he had just walked freq.
drunken sleep. The smooth roundncss q his
checks was gone, his lower jaw was stroHg}y
marked, and his nose seemed drawn out and
sharpened to give the effect of a bird of prey.
Philip glanced significantly about the room.
The lawyer followed his eyes and laughed.
Changed some, aren't we-all lack OF
money, Actually, you have no idea how $40
even would Turkish this old table and polish
this floor. Times amt as they were, Mr.. Bre-
ton, in the old days, when / used to get fat fees
out Of men like your father. Nice man, your
father. But" and he leered meaningly at
his visitor, ''when we do get chance for a
dollar tell you we jump at it." He tipped
back his chair against his half filled book
shelves and peered Familiarity into Philips
stern face ''Why, look at those dirty fell
lows back by the door. Time was wouldn't
notice q Client unless he wore white collar
and cuffs But now for business. ! suppose
you were little astonished to get my let
terri
~ should prefer not to have listeners" re-
marked Philip, coldly.
"Oh, well, will finish with these fellows
first, then. thought you might be inl-
patient"
Mot at oil, sir.'
The lawyers clothes were threadbare and
soiled, and the black felt hat that he wore,
indoors and out, well Slouched over his eyes,
was torn in the crown, Philip compared
hi x.,ifh In c1,o1,l
could not sec but tho clients looked as well as
their patron. But Mt every sign of poverty
and degradation his heart sank lower and
lower, for the man must be reckless and
hungry as man eating shark. If it lay in
his power to rack the life out of victim
tho man could have no restraint of character
or decency to hold back his hand. Could
there be anything he knew about Bertha's
past that terrible gap Philip had not tried
to look into? He dared not think, Impatient!
he dreaC ID the moment VIXEN the lawyer
should send away his soiled clients Philip
started each time he half turned as if to come
back But when Giddings closed the door
a little roll of bills had passed from their
hands to his, and came back to his seat, the
young mill owner did not seem TO observe
him until the lawyer said:
II have filled out a complaint, but have
not signed it yet"
Philip looked at him blankly. 'What is 4
complaint"
"Well, my dear sir, man Of your position
might pass a lifetime anil never know.
Ahem! 1t is n form OF procedure that is
generally understood to be applicable only to
the poor. When wretch has committed a
burglary, for instance, some friend of Justice,
as for example, goes before a magistrate
and makes certain charges Then the poor
devil is arrested, dragged before the court
and tried"
"Well, sir, what are your complaints to
mel"
The lawyer smiled. "strictly, nos,iney,
unless you identify yourself with u wo,slan
calling herself Bertha Breton" He paused
to notice the effect of his words
"My wife" gasped Philip. ooh, for Gods
sake, speak quickl'
"You have been lately marriedf'
"a week ago."
"The woman you have married has bus
band already. By remarrying as she ha.
done she has committed q felony by our
laws, Some rather inaeeurately cali her
crime bigamy. A state prison offense, /
suppose you know-I mean for her. The law
of our state does not touch YOU"
but she told me Sne was Tree 20 marry"
How for off his voice sounded. Was it he,
indeed, In q low attorneys office, discussing
his wife, whether she were felon or no. 1t
was like horrible dream; too horrible to be
anything but dream; but he could not
awake 4om It,
TO BE CONTINUED.