The Van Buren press., 1893-05-06

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professional etiquette than any mar
who has been out of his articles nearly
ten yearssr My tiuc was served with 9
celebrated firm in Lincoin's Inn, VIII.
would have tainted at the proposition
OF their doing any police court bust
ness, and would sooner have ceased
practising than have seen their name
on a company promoters prospectus
!, however. had my own way to make
in the world, and. despite what pro
fessional etiquette might dictate, all
was grist that came to my mill. Fol
two or three years there seemed more
grit than grist in the legal machiner,
set up In little third floor office in
Chancery Lane. of which l was the
engineer. But people got worse, SC
times got better-for solicitors. have
always been a little inclined toward
Journalism and many of my best and
most intimate friends are Fleet stree,
scribes
One evening, | remember, had nc
cepted an invitation to dine with the
dramatic critic of popular Sunday
paper, and delightful evening We
had. We most certainly gave the lie
direct to those who think and foolishly
circulate the idea that when pressme L
meet together they invariably dine
mot wisely but too we'll"
When arrived at the Monaco, a very
favorite resort for literary men and
foreigners, my friend was there with
another man.
"My friend Mr.. Van Scoup,'h he said,
by way OF introduction, as be put his
hand very faniliarly on the shoulders OF
typical American. Broad-shouldercd,
tall, neatly-dressed, though not quite
in English fashion, there was an air of
good nature and an honest open ex-
preston about Mr.. Van Scoup which !
could not fail to notice Immediately
"Pm real pleased to sec you, SIR" he
replied, as he extended his hand and
shook mine, little thinking he was
driving signet ring right into it.
1t would be impossible to explain or
even mention the heads of all the topics
touched upon. "reminiscences, expert
ences, yarns, and bon mots were the
order of very pleasant evening. Van
Scoup broke the run-in which, by the
way, he had taken his fair share.
$50 you're en- attorney, then?" ad.
dressing me.
YES, ] am, worse luck
"Ah! Business slack. then?'
mo, not that exactly; but it's hum
drum work ut the best. not exciting
enough. Now man like you is meet
ing with fresh experiences every day,
and lifcs not run in u groove and tied
up in red tape Wi
"Ah!" exclaimed our mutual friend
the critic, ''the same old tale, Van
Scoup; the business that anyone could
have made pay is always another
mans"
We all three laughed. and saw the
truth of his words Van Scoup thought
a moment, then he looked over at me
in critical sort of way.
"Do you want real, live, exciting
sort of job, no red tape about it?"
Lets hear about it," replied.
"Well, I've made my pile, so it's no
much consequence to me; but there's
one man ON the face of Gods earth,
and if could lay my hands on him I'd
be worth another fifty thousand"
-'sB Boitafs?s' the the critic suggested, In
his matter-of-fact way.
"Well, it doesn't matter for our pur-
pose whether it's dollars or pounds--I
want the man.
SIS that the case you want me to
take up?'
/ That's it, and if you can hunt him
down anywhere III give you enough
dollars--or pounds, If you like" look
ing at our critical friend, who laughed,
ITO make it the best days work you
ever did in your life" q
"What's he lilSe-how does he mean
so much TO you-when was he seen
last?" l exclaimed, as fast as could.
"l'll answer that last right off-he's
the dead Image Of meas like as the
halves of split pea what you call
over here my DOUBLE s7s. =
"But how can you get tbe money
from him? It's not criminal offense
10 be n mans double"
"You find the man and he'll know
right off whether l'm going to get the
dollars or not"
But does he differ from you in moth
ing?'
"Well, that's the most extraordinary
thing in the whole bag of tricks, for
he's got his initials tattooed on the
soles OF his feet"
What" exclaimed.
"Yes, on the soles of his feet. It's a
ticklish job, l admit.
Van scoup entertained us with long
rigmarole as to how he had only to find
this double, whom he knew to be in
London. and to produce him in New
York, to have him convicted of an I'M
pudent fraud by which he had abso-
iutely got immense sums OF money py