The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-09-18
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! Sd1D through tho hGlf open GoorG gDung
Tlsl1 dressed in the height Of 5gSlilo4l.
The incident to which have vaguely
alluded was the result of an arrangement
tbs door connecting Our Offices should
b left ajar during the visits of his
clients, except where privacy was i'm
portant. In the latter case he was very
careful, Of course, to close II; but unless
he did SO had his permission 10 listen
to what was said This soon became my
faFCrite diversion, and even came TO
the Office for the purpose or other days
than my usual one.
A great many strange people came TO
consult Mr. Chelm, and I thus picked
up q stock Of miscellaneous information
about business matters as wei as some
new ideas regarding human nature.
Sometimes, when the visitors seemed
particularly interesting, would venture
10 peep rou1d the corner or through the
crack Of thedoor, SO as to catch glimpse
Of them. Afterward Mr. Chel1n often
told me more about them, and IN IN
stances where pacuniary aid c0uld be of
service allowed me to come TO the res
cue; for there were numerous persons
who resorted to him for relief, knowing
that he was charitable man who had
helped others II he had the leisure he
always lent sympathetic ear to their
stories, and If he could not aid them
was uniformly kind and considerate.
Twas struck by the number Of appi-
cants for employment. Give rs some
thing to do and we can get along. We
want work, not money" was the too
frequent petition, for ii was Just this
class Of persons whom Mr.. Chelm found
it most difficult 10 assist. So many of
them, too, were educated and intelligent
young men and women, unaccugtumed
10 hardships and 10 shift for themselves,
driven out of work by the continued
hardness of the times For nearly five
years business had been at standstil,
Mr.. Chelm told me, and as 4 conse-
quence property had depreciated sadly
distress been caused among the people
of moderate means. To many a tale of
destitution / thus listened with tears IN
my eyes, and ON more than one occasion
was able TO procure at least temporary
occupation for the sufferers.
One morning as | was thus sitting,
hoping for some client TO arrive, saw,
through the half open door, a young man
dressed IN the height of fashion, bien
gante, bien chausse, and attended by the
very ugliest bull terrier It had ever been
my lot TO gaze on, enter Mr. Chelm's
Office. l had by this time learned TO d.
vine usually the errands of clients before
they began TO speak. and made up my
mind that this handsome young dandy
for he was extremely good looking TO
boot-must be the heir to some large
estate which he wished to intrust TO the
care Of Mr.. ChelIn, or that he had got
entangled with an actress and was in
search of legal aid to release him from
the meshes of the net. In either event
expected TO have the door closed IN my
face and the strangers secret TO remain
sealed from me forever. | placed my
chair, however, SO that / could be
screened from observation and yet within
earshot, prepared 10 see and listen as
long as should be possible
The visitor drew a card from very
dainty case and laid it on Mr. Cheln's
desk.
MY name IS Prime, sir-Francis
Prime. have come 10 consult you on a
business matter"
Pray SIT down, Mr. Prime. What is
1t I can dofor you?
'sYou knew my father, I tIlinksa
'.Ralph Prime, Of New York: Most
assuredly. I had q high regard for
him.
II am his only &C.. He died. as you
may be aware, five years ago in reduced
circumstances, because he preferred to
remain honest. An odd, cratic choice,
was II nof?'
Il was sorry to hear he had been IN
fortunate" answered Mr. Chelrn quietly.
1Yes, SIR, paradoIcal as It may seem,
my father was IN honest man. One
might have supposed his only son would
inherit that trait If nothing else. But Ii
mrss have skipped q generation. am
not what / seem lam sham. lie sat
N silence for some minutes stroking his
mustache.
Il judge that you have got into some
difficulty, Mr.. Prime. IF SO, I an sorry
to hear It Be frank with me. and as
your father's friend win do what I can
for you, but as a lawyer must ask you
to conceal nothing" So saying, Mr..
Chelrn made move as If to close the
door
Pray, do not trouble yourself, sir.
NY story Is already known to SO many
people that privacy is immaterlaL Let
me, instead ask permission 10 Light q
ciga-ette--tllat IS, T .yun. do not object