The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-07-08

who was willing to work the case for a
proper fee.
paid no attention to either of these
letters. At the same time l was served
with notice to the effect that the case
would come up in the regular county
court held in an adjoining town on the
following Tuesday.
81 suppose am in for it,, said to
Dodworth.
'rm afraid you are, Blake. You
would have been better off if you had
taken my advice in the first place.
However, 1 will do the best can for
you"
81 know you will. 1 want you to let
every one know that the reason l don't
pay the bill is because l think Fairfax a
swindler.
'rI make it hot for him." laughed my
friend.
But for all this the outcome of the
matter worried me not little. 1t was
not because would have to pay several
hundred dollars if lost the case, but it
was having Judgment rendered against
me. This is something every true bust
ness man hates to have occur.
1 passed Saturday and Sunday in a
most uncomfortable frame of mind. On
lll6 ldJItI udN N6ub W WIFI
wife, but all through the service could
not help trying to think of that name or
face of the witness that was wanted to
save me. endeavored to run alphabet
ically through list of my friends, and
followed this up by thinking first of all
the brown headed men knew, then the
black headed and finally the bald head
ed. But it was all to no purpose, and
gave groan that made my wife think l
was asleep and give me nudge in the
ribs to awaken me.
1--WE got to go to Hamstone to-day"
said Dodworth, as he entered my store
early Monday morning, land won't be
able to see you again before the trial.
but that doesn't matter, for I've got the
whole thing laid out as far as it will go.
Be sure and meet me at the Liberty
court house at9 10 clock tomorrow morn
ing"
promised that would.
'And if you can find that witness
bring him along" he added as he went
out of the door.
1 promised this also. But there was
no use trying to think who the man was
1t was worse than chasing phantom,
and by night was half inclined to think
bliflO DO lhloOlhCll anu blOAO hoN NV
been any witness at all.
"Well, how about that case of yours
and Fairfax's?" asked my wife that
evening.
Pm afraid I'm going to lose it," re-
piled.
lose itl' she exclaimed. "Why, 1
thought you were perfectly sure of win
ing"
81 would be if 1T wasn't that l can't
for the life of me think of a certain wit
ness name"
Did you know the witnessP"
"Quite we'll"
"And you can't think of his name?"
''Not the first letter of it,"
"Then why don't you go to him and
ask what it is?"
Il would if could remember who he
was"
My wife pursed up her lips and smiled
coldly.
Seems to me l could think of per-
sons name if it was as important as all
this" she said.
1 did not have any doubts but what
she could. But then women are vastly
different from men.
L passed restless night. l dreamed
that was in the court room and the case
was in full sway. Fairfax was having
everything his own way, and the jurors
were looking at me with clouded brOws
and doubtful shakes of their heads.
Evidently l was judged to be close
business man who was trying his best
to squeeze out of an honest debt.
''And so you say there was witness to
this transaction" / dreamed Fairfax's
lawyer said. "Who was it?"
1t was only for second that hesita-
ted. Then l answered in plain, matter
of fact tone:
''Mr. George Ardell."
''Who is hep"
"a shoe dealer of Hamstone."
SIS he here?"
"He is"
And with this 1 dreamed Mr.. Ardell
stepped forward and put in his evidence,
and after this the case was all in my
favor, for Fairfax hadn't leg left to
stand on.
And then l dreamed how thankful
was that my memory had served me so
WELL and what fool thought had
been to have forgotten at all, and good
deal more of similar stuff, until awoke
with a start and found myself sitting up
right in the bed, with my wife wide
awake beside me.
''For gracious sake, John, what is the
matter2" she cried.
''I've found out who that witness
WASH l exclaimed. Il just dreamed
about the whole thing"
"And who is it?' she asked, with a
considerable show of interest.
"Why, it come to me just as easy as
anything could" l went on. 81 was in
the courtroom and the lawyer asked me
to name the man and l said-I said
And then 1 did my best to think Of
what had said.
"Well, what?"
'Why, said it-was"- | ran my
hands through my hair half dozen
times. "Why, confound the thing! I've
forgotten it again" And true enough
that name and face had slipped through
my mind once more. There was no use
in trying to bring it back either, for it
wouldn't come, and after spending two
hours in the easy chair trying to coax
the thing to return l gave up in despair
II think after this when you meet any
one you had better put it down in your
notebook" said my wife at the break
fast table.
But then, she was slightly cross be-
cause | awoke her two hours before the
regular time.
At o'clock took the train for Lib
erty, and arriving there made my way at
once to the court house. was feeling
pretty blue, and it did not help my
spirits when the time for the case to
oman cama and nnduorfb bad NOT mt Il,