Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-05-23
THE !. 0. I.

I started life as apprentice TO a
chemist where learned many chemi-
cal mysteries; finally l became law
student; and it was my knowledge OF
chemistry-a science OF which am
passionately fond-that gave me a
start as a lawyer. | was seated in
my office one forenoon, INDUCING in
certain gloomy thoughts, when the
door opened and middle-aged man
in humble garb came in, and | recog-
nized him at the first glance as an IN
dustrious and honest machinist
named William Campbell, former
neighbor Of my late fathers. He
was Hurried and nervous, and saw
at once that there was something
wrong.
Good morning, Mr.. Campbell.
said l. "How did you happen to find
the office Of young lawyer like me-"
by accident" ne said. II am in
trouble, and il don't get out OF it, |
ann ruined. All the savings OF my life
will be gone unless | find some lawyer
smart enough to defeat the
rascality OF a certain man, and
I was intending to call on the
first lawyer / could see, and it
happened to be you. My money was
lying in the bank drawing interest;
but well-to-do man I knew to be
worth twenty times the amount, and
in whom had great confidence, came
TO me and asked me to lend him my
money for few months. told him
/ should want it at the end OF the
year, and ne said he would readily re-
turn it by that time, and he would
give me eight per cent. So | let him
have it, and now it is due, and | can't
get it back
HAS he any property" | asked,
"Yes-any amount of it; but I've
understood he's slippery fellow.
wishI had known that before"
but you took his note surely?"
said l.
Eyes, but | can't find it; that 5 what
y
day. and he said he had no recollec
tion of borrowing any money IRON
me; if had his note he would pay me
If hadn't he wouldn't"
"And you can't find the note?"
NO
"What did you do with it?''
81 put it in this pocket book wher
keep all my important papers; bu
when came to look for it anon
other notes, receipts, and the like,
couldn't find it,
He produced large, old-fashionet
-ieathern pocket-book as he spoke, ant
looked through it and examined
lot OF receipts and notes that wer
packed together in one OF its pockets
thinking that two OF the papers nigh
be sticking together.
'"rhere is no note" / said. t'Bu
what is that blank sheet OF pape
doing here2n And took up slip &
white paper that / found among tn
documents,
~ don't know"
"Who is the man that gave you tn
note?"
alexander Bronton, the druggist.
know Alexander Bronton well. II
was wealthy and penurious, and ha
the name OF being tricky. was salts
fed that Mr.. Campbell was telling tn
truth. was convinced that Bronto
was not a man who would be likely t
forget having borrowed 1000, and
jumped to the conclusion that he ha
played some cunning trick to wroT
The confiding mechanic out OF the fruit
of many years OF labor. But whs
was the trick2
/ unused few minutes as / agai
casually overhauled the papers, an
then said
"Mr. Campbell, Idon't mean to 50
that Bronton is dishonest, but migf
he not have handed you this blar
piece OF paper and slipped the note
his pocket-book with the money yc
lent him?"
"No, that is out ofthequestion. lie
amined the note again after reach'
home, before | put my pocket-boC
away, to see that no mistake hf
been made; found it all right, plain
day in every letter and figure, and
remember it as well as though it hs
been Yesterday; 1 even remember II
ticing how clear and bright the il
WAS; il had a kind of reddish tinge.
was in the act OF handing {
pocket-book back TO him as he sa
this, but a thought suddenly stru
me. and opened It again.
"9r Campbell" ! said carlcssl