Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-04-20
IN THE MIDDLE WEST.
A Story Of Life in the Great
Mississippi Valley.


without looking up.
~ will pay the balance, sir! and
John Earring went out. After he had
gone Joel pushed the papers about his
desk in a disturbed way. and glancing
at the book-keeper saw that he had re-
sumed work with conscious look.
Joefs face was flushed, and once OF
twice he acted as if he were going to
speak; then he put on his hat and went
out.
Without looking back John Earling
strobe up the street with set teeth
and walked into the law-ofiice of Bower
& Woodman. Judge Bower. a tall,
benignant looking man with moist
fair skin and sandy hair, was nodding
over a newspaper, while his partner, q
little unkept and greasy of apparel, but
with keen amber-colored eyes, a sharp
hooked nose, long, slightly retreating
forehead, long, claw-like fingers, sunk
en- checks. chewing nervously and spit
ting momentarily, sat writing vigor-
ously at a table. He looked much like
some old and rusty eagle as he sat
the region. He did not look up to see
who had entered, but spit quickly and
without much regard to the direction.
"Sit down." he said, with kind of
gutteral jerk. and continued driving
his pen across the paper IN a maze of
dizzy hieroglyphics. Judge Bower
looked up with sleepy, pleasant salu-
tation, and requested the new conner to
be seated.
But John Earring remained standing
with his hat in hand, and directing his
query toward Judge Bower asked if
they could furnish him with something
to do.
"Why, 1 don't know" said Judge
Bower, laying down his newspaper,
1--WE have a good deal of writing, per-
haps we might do something for you. ="
Old Woodman, as he was familiarly
called, turned his head over little
and glanced at the fine looking, clean
cut youth without staying his pen.
Whats the matter with the store?"
SAID he as he wrote.
II have been dismissed" said John
Earring.
Judge Bower moved about in his
big chair, and Woodman laid down
his pen and stretching out his legs be-
fore him ran his hands down deep into
his pockets and set his grizzly chin
against his chest. He looked kecnly
at the youth. What was the troubleP'
he asked.
81 would prefer not to explain it
wholly, sir: 1t was not because was
dishonest"
lit was the other fellow that was
dishonest, wasn't it?'
"Whichp DO you mean the young
man who was discharged this morn
ingp"
mo; the big one-Joel!'
TOhn Eorlip 40 it tod q Y,1nnnont than
said, gravely:" Mr.. Whitney has beer
kind to me. Iwauld rather not think
or speak of him in any other than a
grateful way. 1 owe him three ycars
of service yet. sir, and as soon rs l can
l wish to pay it"
The old lawyer scratched his grizzly
jaw, spit quickly, glanced at his part.
ner, and said: ''Well, | guess we car
set you to work. Don't think you will
get rich, but it will keep you from
starving"
He got up, whirled table against
the wall, threw lot of legal-cap upon
it, laid some documents by the paper
and wheeled up chair.
"Now, young man." he said. ''whale
it to itr'
John Earring smiled and thanked
him and sat down and began copying
the documents rapidly. Woodman sat
down, threw his legs upon a table,
thrust cigar into his mouth and said:
"Now, Bower. guess I'll smoke"
John Earling continued writing
through the remainder of the day. The
others came and went. In the even
ing the mild-mannered Bower said:
MIR. Earring. you can go to supper
whenever you choose"
Young man," broke in Woodman,
shave you been to dinner to-day?'
"No, SIR" said John Earling. al
forgot il"
Old Woodman glanced at the Judge
and expectorated in a most emphatic
manner.
II would be glad to have you come
With me to tea," said Judge Bower,
~ am just going now"
THANK you, SIR" said Earring, al
i" then he broke Off He seemed
not to have thought of his altered re-
latiors with Joel Whitney until then.
II had not thought of where should
live," he said, with a smile. Then,
after a few moments: Would you
pardon me. sir, if asked if your
kindness might be considered as a
charityP"
| certainly not, certainly not, SAID
Judge Bower, IL should be glad OF
your company"
! They arose and went out Old Wood.
man closed one of his eyes very tight
and brought his fist down upon the
table with crash. Fire! snap! grit
there's a fighter for your he said.
"What handfuls of hair he would
bring away!' then he leaned back in
his chair and scratched his jaw. "Cool,
smooth, proud, and sharp as a razor
Ought to be lawyer! L-e-e-tle too hon
est, though, I'm 'fraid. But what hail
he would bring away! Snum! snum
what h-a-i-rr' and the old lawyer thrust
his hand out before him like claw and
jerked it back as if he had Invested an
adversary of his scalp.
CHAPTER x.
The home of Judge Bower lay back
| al .sI l., ~1As