The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-06-24
HIS ROOMMATE.
How He Ruined an Honest Young
Lawyers Reputation.

am plain, honest lawyer, and, be
Tore a certain young man moved int
my double Office, my reputation wa.
spotiess. He moved in FOR the ostensi
Die purpose of sharing the expense Of
rent He was 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 70 move. But poverty is nc
crime and took fancy to him ON &C.
count of his principles. It is SO pleas
ant to meet some one nowadays with
principles. He had plenty of them and
1t 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, | respected his extreme virtues,
and congratulated myself upon having
such righteous roommate. There
was marked popularity about our be-
ing in the same Office together. Peo-
pie said that we resembled each other
In personal appearance, which l con-
Stirred 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-
larry enough my practice decreased.
When the first months rent was due he
hit me on the back in his hearty, famil-
lar fashion and said; ''You pay this
month nj
that was fair 1 did so. One day when
alone in the Office was bordering upon
the ylciss,tudes of fate and the scarcity
OF fees when a man rushed into the of
nee IN an unceremonious manner and
sSpod glaring at me. Rejoiced over
what seemed to be the immediate pros
pect of a client in pursuit of dishon-
est partner or a wife who had eloped, l
assumed soft, insinuating smile and
politely waved him to chair. My cour-
teous invitation was declined and the
man, taking step nearer, exclaimed:
''Scoundrel!"
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
not give way in this manner" l 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 CHANGED that did know the young
woman, who lived in our neighbor-
hood. l responded in the affirmative,
and added something about her being
very charming girl. "And now, sir,v
l said tartly, twill you tell me who you
are?"
He drew himself up as though about
to impart startling information Il am
Maggie's best fellow, or at least was
before you came along and alienated
her affections from me-
'What?"
''Alienated her affections"
sT?"
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 l 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-
tions the next few moments were those
of man falling from balloon or GO
ing through q 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 cy-
clone. Upon my word" / thought,
raising myself on my elbow in the cor
ner of the room, "a strange visitorl"
When my roommate came in he ex-
pressed the greatest sympathy, and so
genuine were 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
,he cruel shafts of fate. One day gen.
,leman whom had never seen before
,ame into the Office and accused me of
having cheated him at game of poker.
Ills claim was that / had two aces in
ny sleeve. Now, as never play poker
Tor gambled in my life, this was re-
strange. told him that the
estive game had no attractions for me,
md he stared at me in amazement. He
that he was rather under the
hadow of the vine" the night before,
mt that his perceptions were perfectly
lear, and that had beyond doubt .
windled him in gentleman's game out
+ one hundred and fifty-seven dollars,
which had better return at once. / ;
ctorted that l did not know flush
rom n full and ! had never sat in a
ack-pot in my life, at which he looked
Scorn.