The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1893-07-29
THE COUNTERFEIT COIN
CHAPTER III,

different PAGES than Rosalind has attrib-
uted to time, but ''those with whom it
lags withaw are not often the poor and
friendless, A few days only elapsed
before was summoned as witness to
attend the trial OF. Alice Sumner. In
the meantime both Mr.. Bullion and
myself made great but fruitless efforts
to obtain further insight into the true
facts Of the case.
The prisoner herself made no confess
sion. but constantly asserted her inno-
cence, to the great discontinue of the
broker and the unutterable perplex "
of myself. sought in vain for q fisw
in the chain Of evidence against her or
chance to establish her innocence by
other facts. Even the general testimony
OF good characteristic last frail reed on
which she leaned-seened to bend be.
meath her. She and her mother had but
lately come to the city, and to all our in
4uiries as to their former home and
friends we received only courteous but
evasive answers. It was evident that
some dark cloud Of sorrow. if not OF
crime, hung over their past history and
this, while it did not diminish the in
terest l felt in her, sadly weakened my
confidence in her defense.
1t was the day before the trial. and 1
sat in my Office musing painfully on the
dark feature of the case, when stranger
entered. The first glance assured me
that he was one of a class of clients with
which most of our city lawyers are ia
1niliar. A seedy. decrepit old man,
humble yet querulous, detected and yet
visionary, bearing about a tattered and
worn collection Of papers and pitifully
urging his tale Of wrong and suffering.
from which the patient listener CLEANS
at the same time belief that the sad
tale is true and melancholy conviction
that knavery has SO cunningly hidden
or time 50 long obliterated the evidences
OF the wrong that no court save that Of
the Omniscient can ever set it right.
l turned. from the man more pettishly
than should have done but for the sub
lect that engrossed my thoughts. The
poor old mans spirits We're too much
broken to take offense at my rudeness.
Beseechingly he added:
ulu not mean to give You trouble
for nothing, sir. | have but little to
offer You now, but will pay you liber-
ally when | gain my case. You shall
have-you see mean to be generous
let me see-l cannot recover less than
twenty thousand dollars-it may be thir-
ry, or even forty-and You shall have =
quarter of it all. Think of that, sir!,
Ten thousand dollars for one case!'
And my client threw himself back in
his chair, feeling for the thousandth
time, poor fellow. that his troubles were
almost over and the phantom in pur-
suit of which his life had been wasted
81 least within his grasp But had
had many such clients before. and when
4 was very young Mt the lar had been
dazxfed more than once in the same way.
"How much can you afford HE as q
retainer?'
'Now?" He seemed to be engaged in
an abstruse calculation as if over the
resources of u nation. "Ten thousand
dollars when the case is finished, say six
months or a year hence. Suppose we say
i've dollars, sir. ON account"
There was something SO painfully eager |
N the look that accompanied these words |!
that ] suppressed the smile which had |
been prompted by the pathos in his offer
and signlfied my acceptance. My client
irew from his pocket lank purse, and
from the purse a solitary coin. Poor
treamer. he was paying his all for this
mo more ticket in the lottery!
ihad opened my lips to bid him leave
ais papers and take back the coin when
ny eye fell ON it. One scrutinizinp
glance. and jumped from my seat as if
electrified by the little piece Of gold.
Where did You get this money, sir?"
A transient CLEAN of former FIRE shone
n the old mans eye.
Il do not see, sir. what that has to do
With my case"
IBy heavens" l shouted, collaring the
i'd man and fairly lifting him out of
'is seat, "if you do not tell me this il
tant".--
Just at this moment my Office door
pened to admit my learned and eloquent
riend Flourish. What that eminent
ounsel thought of the scene do not
are to guess. The personal appearance
{ my client was not suggestive OF any
einptation to felonious assault, nor
id his manne. indicate any provocation
7hich could have called for chastise-
lent; and these two suggestions being
npossible, Mr.. Flourish stared with un-
isguised amazement at my unprofes-
cnal conduct. His presence brought
10 to myself. and with many apologies
explained that this coin, which, rs my