Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-02-02
Original

trade barrister, and was reckoned, 1
am told, enc of the cleverest in the
profession. In his views he was de-
cided. His sentiments were of a
character most prOsaic - autocratic,
dignifcd and the very pink of pro-
priety; his blood blue as indigo,
he was stiff as-,vell, stiff as Cobb,
forsooth, and last among the least of
men who would be dreamed of
as the hero of romance
the victim of a fell circumstance.
But, as a modern philosopher hath
sagely remarked, you cant sometimes
most always tell" and so it is that
upon the particular day in which
our tale opens we find the entire
village of Braggville signing and
then smiling; soothing and anon laugh
ing, ut the fate of Horatius Cobb, Jr.
The whole occurrence, in the words of
Dominic Sampson, is simply pro
digious!' And is. to say the least, in
tensely interesting, not only for the
reason that it illustrates the fickleness
of fate, but because it demonstrates
clearer than ever the fact that in this
age of progress and in this so-called
free country man never positively
knows who, what nor where he is.
40 vanity of vanitieS,
How hayward the DEGREES of tate are,
How very great the very small,
a How very small the very great are!"
One bright Ycrnal morning Horatius
had arisen as usual at an early hour;
had made his toilet, breakfasted and
was prepared to return to his Office
his sanctum sanctorum-there to again
assume the responsibilities incumbent
-hN rs hn inf re
of an army of clients, when the bell
rang and Il messenger with telegram
was announced. Hastily tearing open
the envelope Mr.. Cobb read:
HE died last night Will disposed of. Come
Immediately. ARABEL4LA PINKCHEEK.''
Horatio smiled complacently. He
had been anXiously awaiting this in
telIigence for the last few days, aud it
was very welcome, indeed. Anyone
who is at all acquainted with the ma
ture and instincts of individuals of the
legal profession viii guess why. Miss
Arabena Pinkcheek was a maiden lady
who resided at Dumping Ditch,
some score or more of miles from
Braggville. She was the poSSessOr of
a cool million of almighty dollars.
This message conveyed to Lawyer Cobb
the welcome intelligence that Miss
Pinkcheek contemplated trusting the
management of her worldly goods and
chattels to him. Further, she sought
his advice concerning the disposition
of her fathers estate whose demise is
referred to IN the message, and wished
him to come immediately to her resi-
dence to attend to her affairs. / say
Cobb had been expecting this summons
for some time. A few days since Miss
PinlScheek had visited him at his Office,
and informing him of her wishes de-
parted, after assuring him that he
would be advised as soon as the death
of the paternal Pinkcheek occurred
which was hourly expected. Even
humble iayman then can appreciate
Mr. Cobb's feelings upon this occasion.
He had enough other wealthy
clients, to be sure, but lawyers, like
other financial gormandizers, have
a modest way of admitting that
there is always room for more" and
so the eleven words constituting this
message were of more importance to
Cobb at that particular moment than
whole folios of manuscript might have
been under different circumstances
He smiled-the dignifed Cobb even
grinned; presto! the astute barrister
laughed aloudl He started at the
sound of his own voice Such hilarity
from dignifed Ii. d. Twas positive
" child-likel Supposing his wife, who
had not yet risen, had heard him? He
straightened himself at the thought.
Suppose his better-half having been
awakened by the unusual sounds of
merriment from his apartment. were
at that moment listening at the door!
These thoughts served as a quietus,
He tip-toed over to the rack, removed
his hat and coat. and putting them on
prepared to depart Then it was that
the thought occurred to bim-such q