The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1891-01-08
A CARBON COPY.

A CARBON COPY.
How a Law Firm Was Supplied
with Their Opponents Thunder.
''Somebody interested in this matter
is stealing our thunder" began Mr..
Capias, of the famous law firm of
Capias, Summons e. Circuit, as he
motioned an unassuming, quiet-looking,
middle-aged man to a seat in his pri-
vate room.
The quiet-looking man said nothing
in reply. He sat down and waited, smil
ing pleasantly.
He is not only stealing our thunder"
continued the lawyer, sitting bolt up
right in his huge leather chair and
lingering nervously with paper-knife
but he is actually selling it to the
other side"
'You have no idea who it can be?" re-
piled the quiet-looking man.
mot the slightest. 1 don't suspect
any body in this Office. Our clerks
have all been in our employ for years.
We feel that we can trust them i'm
plicitly. But so important Is secrecy in
this matter that have given nobody a
with our client have been conducted
right here in this room with closed
DOORS"
Through long habit, the eyes of Henry
G. Marshall, one of the most expert
enced detectives in the West, rested
for moment on the transoms They
were herme tically sealed. Two winters
ago the crevices had been stuffed with
cotton batting. 1t had never been re-
moved.
What letters have you written?
Who has access to your press copy
books?" was his first question.
Mr.. Capias smiled slightly. The
ability of these men is sadly over
rated" thought he.
Letters of this character I always
write myself, copy myself in my pri-
vate book, and that book keep in that
vault under lock and key. The leak is
not in that direction. Now, what DO
you adviser
The detective considered moment.
II will work on the case outside for a
few days. I will watch your office and
have those characters whom ! may con-
slider suspicious watched and Swallowed.
If find no clew it may become neces-
sary for me to take place In the Office
myself"
I'm my Officer calculated the aston
ished lawyer. In whatcapacity, pray?"
There are variety of openings. l
can come as copyist, confidential mes
senger, constable, just as you wish"
Mr.. Marshall took his hat and left
Mr.. Capias said nothing Of his interview
with the detective to either of his part
ners. The case in question, very inn
portant one, involving the recovery of
great estate, the Bangs litigation, twas
entirely under his management. What
he loved best was to work in secret and
astonish Mr.. Summons and Mr.. Circuit
with his grand coups. These latter gen.
tlemen, whilst excellent and painstak-
ing lawyers. lacked the genius which
undoubtedly distinguished Capias in the
management of affairs. Retainers from
great corporations came his way as nat
urally as water finds its own level. A
great bank rang him up over the tele-
phone one day.
"Please come over at once. We wish
to retain you in an important matter"
my Office Is blankety- blankety blank,
Blank street. shall be in from four to
five, when 1 shall be happy to see you.
l am now in consultation" was the au-
dacious reply of Mr.. Capias. who really
had nothing more important on hand at
that particular moment than usual.
Messrs. Summons and Circuit were
appalled,. Capias was crazy to talk that
way to such an institu ton as the Mutu-
al Credit, Trust, Loan and Universal
Accom- mediation Association. They ex-
changed looks of alarm.
But Capias was right. There is moth.
Ing your great corporation reveres SO
much as independence. A man who de-
clined to come out and see them must
necessarily be great lawyer. An of.
fetal called that very day with an i'm.
mense retainer, and confidence was re-
stored in the breasts OF Mr.. Capias' more
timid associates.
But even Mr.. Capias had been unable,
with all his astuteness. to get to the
bottom of the Bangs mystery-who was
furnishing facts to the other side.
He was opposed by very shady prac.
titioners. Slivey, Tove & Sons had a
very unsavory reputation in the pro
fession of the law.
Neither could Mr.. Marshall, the
equally astute detective, succeed any
better, it appeared. At any rate, he SC
informed Mr.. Capias at the end of q
weeks seemingly fruitless search, add
ing. however:
1.-The man must be in your office.
must come in there Monday morning"
''Who is that new clerk in the cute,
Office who spells injunction with q .g?'
inquired Mr.. Circuit of Mr.. Summons
ibid you engage him?"
Il did not" emphatically. =
Mr.. Circuits face grew as long as that
of q master in chancery who has lost
his fees or the receiver of fat estate
which has settled amicably with it,
creditors. -
''Capias must have hired him!" he
calculated.
That settled it. If the new clerk had
spelled injunction backwards it would
have made no difference. Capias had
hired him-that was sufficient. -
For three days Mr.. Marshall re.
NAMED in che Office of Capias, Summons
& Circuit, where he soon became prime
tevorits.. Il he was deficient in spelling,