The Indianapolis journal., 1892-12-25
QUEER CHRISTMAS STORY
Gratitude Carried to the Extreme of
Committing Deliberate Murder.
How the TBreadbare Lawyer Of Doeberry
Row Gained Unexpected Fame and
Fortune After Years Of Want.

Row. A strange community had sprung mp
between him externally and Dogberry
Row externally and internally they were
similar sometimes gloomy and at other
times still more gloomy. The faded suit
hung TO him, as q poor lawyer hangs to
poor case. while the gloss on the frictioned
parts was particularly perceptible. A cork
screw diagonal was one time favorite
cloth In the row. when all sorts of long
tailed coats were cut of II, with jealous
trousers twisted to their functions
somewhat rebeIllous at the knees. but
submissive elsewhere. and just triie
short to meet the demands of an exacting
suspender. He had fallen to the lot Of
such q suit Of clothes that held him ms
mercilessly as did the row. When the
courthouse was building. he had rubbed
spot on his smoky pane. looked forth and
thought of the days when he would plead
before little fat judges in the gilded
sanctuary, and file affidavits with the
patrouizing clerk below. Slowly huge
stones had been piled upon each other. and
splendidly had the structure assumed Its
present proportions before his waiting
eyes. Still he had been poor lawyer. and
still he had maintained his insgnihcance
Rs such, until the great parapets and brist-
hing stone looked down upon. almost oblit-
Grating his identity with their impressive
ness.-and still he attacked the wheezy
'equires in Dogberry row. who had slowly,
after years of solemn advisement, arrived
at the conclusion that he was a chestnut
and would forever remain one. He felt the
depression eff their unwritten verdict and
apologized to himself. Offering armies of ex-
tenuating circumstances that had had all
to do with his condition. The little stove
in his dIngy Office, or den, was larded with
nicotine. and like the corpulent colonel OF
the firm of SqueeZem x Son, emitted
an aromatic odor when heated. Still the
picture of Henry Clay hung behind his
door, and q few books loafed on his shelves
with every sign of that mendicancy to
which they had been consigned for years.
Often a. nj ght. W hen the eather was cold.
be had stood on the curbstone and shlyered
ct the stars. Perhaps o h0ree would be
shivering in it's moorings while It's owner
was tied mp above in the third story to this
Gsoree III. Thomas Post. A Hush OF frozen
water in the gutter would reflect the
hectic gleem of the chilly moon, while
the cold electric light near Tomlinson
Hall sclntillated. sputtered. and annoyed
itself until midnight. Then 1t was that he
would look into the coy office OF Squire
Smock and long for the certain annuity ac-
dutiea. For a moment the tickle goddess of
his dreams would be filmed by the relapse.
and his neither lip would tremble as he
chanced TO think of his sweet wife who
kept the old fire burning IN
might be seen lifting its fair young feat.
ures through the haZiness of his refec-
tions. and the tears would como into his
eyes as in fancy those chubby little arms
pressed his neck and kissed him again and
again. 1t was not every day and not ev-
cry week. perhaps. that this unostenta-
tious disciple of the law found another eli
ent. Now and then some poor devil on his
way to the work house stopped for help at
his dingy room. and usually passed on to
the end of his penalty with slight anchor
age. Every day the squires' nests on the
row would open as early as the poorer
shops cast their cinders and cigar stubs
to the world, preparing for another days
grist. About the first time In years this
corkscrew lawyer had gone to sleep In his
office and had not awakened until the
rumble of early market-wagons Jared
through his slumber as the bright morning
sun spilled a foggy light down his smoky
windows A loud knock at the door had
completed his awakening In time to look
upon the faded face of q young fellow
well dressed, who stood looking at him
with his hand on the knob. Slowly
erasing his eyelids with his LETT
hand he looked doubtfully and
guerulously at his early visitor.
The squeaking of rat In the little ante
room beyond, whose door stood slightly
ajar, revealing q few tattered garments
and dirty basin. was heard. The early
visitor started nerve ously and looked that
way.
"Only rats assured the yawning law
yer pointing to q stool. What can / do
for your
Closing the door and taking the stool
gently in his hand. the early visitor placed
Il near the poor lawyer. looked about the
room searchingly. and, seating himself,
said:
"Yoq don't know mer
We'll; Pve known you for years.
You see it's delicate subject. and
don't want to hurt your feellngs."
Here the sleepy lawyer strengthened him.
self up and looked his visitor square in the
face.
brother. Zeke Kellum. got into fight with
Bob Purvis on Buck crick. and you cleared
him, and he never paid you, and you never
dunned himV
amused.
Now, you see. always liked you for
that. and concluded to do you a good turn.
i hain't got any money. and never expect
to have any to give 10 lawyers. but | can
do q bigger thing for you. I've been on
the lookout over two. years for play to
your hand. and I've got It. Did you hear
about the murderr
"What murder do you meanp
w ny, the rogue run muIQ0Ts
sNot a word"
Last night Bill Wort and me got into a
dispute over at Gilhaley's saloon. We wus
both little full and killed him with the
marine swing. i wouldn't hit him so
hard, but / happened TO think of you and
j let him have 1t In the neck. and he never
said another word back. My gang was
there, taking no part, but seeing things
done square. Wort was q bigoted cuss
and thought he was making headway with
the girl as the house, and / put
check on 'em. The gang are
ell right and you can square things with
the jury III you get down to business and
throw yourself. The girl at the house new
er made the tie for him. as she told me last
night when she brought In the potatoes
and be had no right to throw suspicion on
her."
What housef"
The boarding-house where we all
bunked."
20 see. What were the clrcumstances?r
"Hain't just told youf"
Have you been arrested yeti"
mo. Will be some time to-day. / made
sneak last night so as TO see you early
and get things on the run. Your wife said
you hadn't come home, and thought you
was out of town. Glad / caught you. See
this thing will be ferreted out in the Grim
inal Court. and you will get q show for q
big hit So long"
Where are you goingp
ITO give myself upv
well. I'll be round and see YOU"
In the course of events the new sensa-
ton had been dou ble- loaded in the dsilies.