Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-05-03
CHAPTER XVII.
A LEGAL DISTINCTION.

LEGAL DISTINCTION.
"AI, Mr.. Breton, yes, yes, was sure you
woul 1 come
Tie lawyer pulled two chairs together near
his office table. John T. Giddings had
ch lnged great deal since the time when he
IL idcrtook to engineey the corporation
scheme, Apparently he was going down hill
very fast, without brakes. His eyes wore a
CLASSY look, as if he had just walked from a
drunken sleep. The smooth roundness of his
cheeks was gone, his l)wer jaw was strongly
marked, and his nose seemed drawn out and
sharpened to give the effect of bird of prey.
Philip glanced significantly about the room.
The lawyer followed his eyes and laughed.
t'Changed some, aren't we-all lack of
money. Actually, you iave no idea how $40
pyen would furbish this old table and polish
this floor. Times aint as they were, Mr.. Bre-
ton, in the old days, when used to get fat fees
out of men like your fathes. Nice man, your
father But" and he leered meaningly at
his visitor, ''when we do get a chance for a
dollar tell you we jump at it." He tipped
back his chair against his half filed book
shelves and peered familiarly 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 a little astonished to get my let
ter"
II should prefer not to have listeners" re-
nlarked Philip, coldly.
''Oh, well, will finish with these fellows
first, then. l thought you might be inn
patient"
mot at all, 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
him with his shabby looking callers, and
could not see but the clients looked as well as
their patron. But at 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 a victim
| the 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 dreaded the moment when 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
after the poor wretches, which was not until
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:
81 have filed out complaint, but have
not signed it yet"
Philip looked at him blapEly "What is a
complaint"
swell, my dear sir, mari of your position
might pass lifetime anl never know.
Aheml 1t is form Of procedure that is
generally understood to be- applicable only 90
the poor. When a wretch has committed q
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
mep
Tho lawyer smiled. "strictly, nothing,
unless you identify yourself with woman
calling herself Bertha Breton" He paused
to notice the effect Of his words.
"My wife" gasped Philip "Oh, for Gods
sake, speak quick!"
"You have been lately marriedp
"a week ago."
1.-THE woman you have married has hus-
band already. BY remarrying as she has
done she has committed felony by our
laws Some rather inaccurately call her
crime bigamy. A state prison offense,
suppose you know-I mean for her. The Ii n
of our state does not touch you."
"But she told me she was free to marry
How far off his voice sounded. Was 1t he
indeed, in a low attorneys Office, discussing
his wife, whether she were felon or no. II
was like a horrible dream; too horrible to bt
anything but dream; but he could no,
awake from it.
"No doubt she thought so,n said the law
yer, charitably; ''but let me show YOU" Ht
opened drawer in front Of him, and tool
out long paper. Isn't it odd, women hav,
no notion of folding legal document cor
rectly. Did you ever notice itY'
mo, never noticed it,n answered Philip
mechanically. He felt as If he were standing
still, while the world was flying from unde
his feet. E
"This is the marriage certificate. 1t
proper in form, you will see"
Yes; it seemed correct. Bertha's name wa
there, and Curran's They seemed to leal
out Of the parchment as he read. And ther
were two witnesses. He rubbed his eyes
'Thomas Bailes"-that was the name of tn
servant he had turned away. Yes; it wa
not an hour ago he turned him away.
"Who is this Thomas Bailes!"
HE was waiter at the Lockout houst
where the happy couple were made one."
The paper fiuttered to the floor, the wall
Of the room seemed rushing in upon him
while the grinning face Of the lawyer dance
!, in hideous measure before his eyes Wa
God, in his mercy, sending him deatha Whe
his brain cleared again the lawyer was tall
ing still
/ 'You will wonder how happen to posses