Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-05-24
HIS ROOMMATE.
How He Ruined an Honest Young
 Lawyers Reputation.

am a plain, honest lawyer, and, be fore certain young man moved into my double office, my reputation was spotless. He moved in for the ostensi- ble purpose of sharing the expense of rent. He was n nice-looking young man and had fair exterior. The day following his arrangement with me he moved in--That is, he appeared in person. Otherwise he did not have much to move. But poverty is no crime and took fancy to him on ao- count of his principles. It is so pleas ant to meet some one nowadays with principles. He had plenty of them and it did me good to listen to him. "A lawyer" he would say, "has no right to defend criminal when he Is guilty" and, although l did not agree with him, respected his extreme virtues, and congratulated myself upon having such righteous roommate. There was q marked peculiarity about our be- ing in the same office together. Peo- pie said that we resembled each other in personal appearance, which l con strued as a compliment to me.
 He worked up a good business at once, for only week after he entered the office he had case. Other eases followed, and at the same time singu- larly enough my practice decreased. When the first months rent was due he hit mo on the back in his hearty, famil- jar fashion and said: You pay this month, old man, and I will next" As that was fair I did so. One day when alone in the office was pondering upon the vicissitudes of fate and the scarcity of fees when man rushed into the of flee in an unceremonious manner and stood glaring nt me. Rcjoiccd over what seemed to be the immediate pros pect of a client in pursuit of dishon- est partner or a wife who had eloped, assumed a soft, insinuating smile and politely waved him to a chair. My cour- teous invitation was declined and the man, taking step nearer, exclaimed: "Scoundrclw
 I presumed that he was referring to some one who had injured him and from whom he desired redress in tho courts, and so laughed in aconciliatorymanne
 "Come, come, my dear sir, you must not give way in this manner" l said. "Calm yourself, I beg of you."
 ''Ah, you dare jest?" he cried. But you shall settle with me. sir. Do you know Maggie Klien?"
 It chanccd that I did know the young woman, who lived in our neighbor- hood. I responded in the affirmative, and added something about her being a very charming girl. And now, sir I said tartly, twill you. tell mo who you are?"
 He drew himself up as though about to impart startling information. q am Maggie's best fellow, or at least was before you came along and alienated her affections from me-"
 "What?"
 "Alienated her affections"
 "I?"
 "You! The corner grocer told me all about it; how you used to meet Maggie every night near his store and take her to the theater and other places. Mag gie was contentcd enough until you came along, and then I began to see change that I couldn't account for until the grocer told mo about you, and now am going to wipe the floor with you" l started to argue the matter with him in my most persuasive professional style, but he rcsorted to the tactics of the ring and proceeded to carry out lit orally his last statement. My sensa- tions the next few moments were those of a man falling from balloon or go- ing through thrashing machine. When 1 recovered he had departed; my coat was torn; chair wns broken; pens, papers and books were scattered here and there, and the office looked as though it had been struck with a cy- clone. "Upon my word," l thought, raising myself on my elbow in the cor ner of the room, Ia strange visitor!'' When my roommate came in he eX- pressed the greatest sympathy, and so genuine were his words of consolation that I seized his hand gratefully and said: "Thanks, dear boy, thanlsl You are friend indeed"
 After that mishaps came thick and fast. I seemed to be a special mark for l the cruel shafts of fate. One day gen. tleman whom I had never seen before came into the office and accused me of having cheated him at game of poker. His claim was that I had two aces in my sleeve. Now, as never play poker nor gambled in my life, this was re- marlably strange. told him that the | festive game had no attractions for me and he stared at me in amazement. He I JllbO llG W SLS ILLllCL AlLlllCI GIlC shadow of the vine" the night before but that his perceptions were perfectly clear, and that had beyond a doubt swindled him in Q gentleman's game out of one hundred and fifty-seven dollars which had better return at once. retorted that I did not know flush from a full and l had never sat in 8 jackpot in my life, at which he looked unutterable scorn.
 "Then you refuse to return your ill gotten gains?" he asked.
 "I certainly do."
 "Very well; you will hear from me.
 And did. The story got around thai I played a crooked game of poker, and although I carried myself with the bearing of a man who is innocent, could see that was regarded with sus picion. Even the young lady whose company was keeping at the time ap parently knew something, for one nigh she said with a twinkle in her eye: "DC you play poker, Tom?'' Of course de