The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-01-07

Crofts laughed aloud.
 "No, no, Bullen and Leake; they wrote pleadings, not plays"
 "You don't know Bullen and Leake?" said rather scornfully, am afraid. "Why, it's our bible here"
 "Weii," said Thornton, testify, "it might be your prayer-book and psalter too, but don't know it." He treated me with calm superi- ority that was nothing less than inso- lence in new pupil-a six-months pupil, too-to years pupil who had been already three months with Halli- well.
 "Does he always think aloud2" he continued to Crofts.
 "Always. I remember once walk ing across the Temple with him when we met young Merlow, Colonel Mer- low, s. F., as he calls himself down in Worcestershire since his marriage, but he was Jack Merlow in the pupil-room here."
 "Yes, know him." said Thornton, holding.
 "Well, he came up to speak to Hal liwell, who had quite forgotten him. Don't you remember Jack Merlow, sir2" said Jack. Halliwell looked at him, muttering, 'Merlow? Merlow?' then, as memory helped him, Of course, Jack Merlow. An, yes, mar ried an ugly old woman for her money How are you, Merlow? Glad to see you again. How's your wife?' and he shook him heartily by the hand"
 "Goodp cried Thornton, laughing heartily, "capitalw When the laugh had subsided, he looked at his watch, saying: "We shan't have the old man in here to- night, suppose?"
 "Certainly not" replied Crofts.
 "Then think I shall stroll down homeward. What time do you fel- lows start in the morning?"
 "Any time you please after ten," said I.
 "Ah, well, good night" he said.
 "Good night" we answered, as he strolled out.
 The next day Thornton sauntered down about eleven o'clock, and in- troduced him to the rest of the pupil room, including Burnet. Burnet was undoubtedly the hero of the pupil room. He was our leader, our only lawyer. It was with great interest that we awaited his arrival in the morning, to know his opinion of the latest case that had come in. He had certain "Temple" manner with him, and he used legal terms with free dom so careless and unreserved that it seemed almost blasphemous to the un- initiated in legal parlance. Certiorari, ntsi pri1s, demurrer, these and other far more technical phrases were as caviare to us, but to him they appeared even as the homeliest bread and butter. He was man short in stature, broad rather than fat, and had very much in face, figure and manner in common with the bulldog. If there was any, thing remarkable in his personal ap- pearance, it was in the mathematical precision which each whisker balanced the other, as though he was an equi- florist who feared lest any inequality in these appendages might bring him involuntarily to the ground during some daring act on the tight rope.
 There were no papers for Thornton, SO suggested he should send for a book to read.
 "No, thanks" he replied. q shall have a weed by the fire. It's very sharp weather. shall do nicely here."
 With that he drew a chair to the fire, sat down. and took out his cigar case.
 "We don't smoke here," said Burnet severely, looking up from work. "Ah, that's a mistake" retorted Thornton, coolly. "You should smoke here. It's nice lofty room for smok- ing in."
 Even Burnet was almost struck dumb. If a man did not understand the sanctity of Halliwell's chambers and the wickedness of smoking in his pupil room, it was terribly puzzling to explain it to him. However, Bur net felt called upon to make the at- tempt. "Halliwell objects to smoking in his chambers" he said in the same tone.
 "Really, now, that is very old-fash- toned of him, but can't put my weed out now, though Pll remember to smoke tomorrow before I come down. I always smoke in Pages chambers"
 "Who is Pager" sneered Burnet, angrily.
 "Baron of the Common Pleas or some other business. You ought to know" Thornton stuck his feet on the mantlepiece, and puffed clouds of smoke at portrait of Lord Westbury that was hanging on the wall oppo- site. "Makes his lordship look as though he was smiling at us from the realms above, don't it9" he continued.
 Burnet smiled grimly at the idea