The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1893-06-15
HIS ROOMMATE.
How He Ruined an Honest Young
Lawyers Reputation.

Lawyers Reputation.
lam plain, honest lawyer, and, be-
fore Il certain young man moved into
nv double office, my reputation was
spotless. He moved in for the ostensi
bic purpose of sharing the expense of
rent. He was a nice-loolling 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 a fancy to him ON ac-
count of his principles. 1t 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 | did not agree with
him, I respected his extreme virtues,
and congratulated myself upon having
such a righteous roommate. There
was marked popularity about our be-
ing in the same Office together. Peo-
in personal appearance, which l con-
strucd as compliment to me.
He worked up a good business at
once, for only week after he entered
the office he had case Other cases
followed, and at the same time singu-
larly enough my practice decreased.
When the first months rent was due he
:, l,o al f,,l liC haovtTr faD n
lar fashion and said: ''You pay this
month, old man, and l will next" AS
that was fair | 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
fee in an unceremoniOus manner and
stood glaring at me. Rejoiced over
what seemed to be the immediate pros
pect of client in pursuit of a dishon-
est partner or wife who had eloped, l
assumed a soft, insinuating smile and
politely waved him to chair. Ny cour-
teous invitation was declined and the
man, taking step nearer, exclaimed:
'Scoundrelr'
l presumed that he was referring to
some one who had injured him and from
whom he desired redress in the courts,
and SO laughed in aconciliatory manner
Come, come, my dear sir, you must
.fietigive way in this manner" 1 said.
Calm yourself, beg of YOU
''Ah, you dare jest?" he cried. but
YOU shall settle with me, sir. Do you
know Maggie Klien?"
1t chanced that I did know the young
woman, who lived in our neighbor-
hood I responded in the affirmative,
and added something about her being
very charming girl. "And now, sir, .
said tart!y, will you tell me who you
are?"
He drew himself up as though about
to impart startling information. Il am
Maggies best fellow. or at least [ was
before you came along and alienated
her affections from me-
tWhat?"
"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
gle was cOntented enough until you
came along, and then | began to see
change that l couldn't account for
until the grocer told me about you, and
now am going to wipe the floor with
you"
started to argue the matter with
him in my most persuasive professional
style, but he resorted to the tactics of
the ring and proceeded to carry out lit
orally his last statement. Ny sensa-
tons the next few moments We're those
OF man falling from a balloon or 60
ing through a thrashing machine
When ! recovered he had departed; my
coat was torn; chair was 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, "a strange yisitor!"
When my roommate came in he eX-
pressed the greatest sympathy, and so
genuine We're his words of consolation
that | seized his hand gratefully and
said; Thanks dear boy, thanks! You
are friend indeed"
After that mishaps came thick and
last. seemed to be a special mark for
The cruel shafts of fate. One day gen
ueman whom l had never seen before
came into the office and accused me of
having cheated him at game of poker
dis claim was that | had two aces in
my sleeve. Now, as never play poker
nor gambled in my life, this was re-
uarkably strange. told him that the