Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-08-01
HIS LEGAL ADVICE.
Elkanor Bunker was a lawyer, new
ly hedged, and as yet without client.
His shinglc, with
. = . : . = : " - .
ELK AMOR BU MIXER,
Counselor and ATTORNEY nj Law.

.
In letters as bright as gold-leaf could
make them, had gone up the day he
fore. and his library. rather a scan,
pattern had Just arrived, and Elkanol
had spen, the last ) minutes in put
ting that un. too after which Elkanol
seated himself again in his old arm
chair. and musing, rested.
"Oh, for Il good, fat client" sighed
Elkanor. after halt an hours solitary
reflection. Signing doesn't generally
secure the object longed for, but in
this case the usual order of things
seemed likely to be reversed. A heavy
step vas heard in the passage, rap
at the door, and in stalked gaunt,
bony six-footer, with an oxgoad in one
hand and an undressed sheepskin in
the other Elkanor knew his custom.
er, an old acquaintance. ''miserly as
the day is long when days are the
longest. He coolly pushed out a
chair To him. and then busted himself
with some books and papers that lay
before him. with an appearance of in.
dns'ry decidedly greater than he mani.
tested before his visitors entrance.
"lou seem to he plaguey busy this
morning, squire" said Mr.. Tarbox
after silent Sc. sion OF some 15 min.
utes.
Rather busy, sir.
well. then, | guess | won't inter.
rupt you, squire, seein' as you are
busy
at is my business. sir, 10 he inter.
rupted," remarked Elkanor.
"Yes. | know it is; hut you see
didn't exactly call on business. | only
wante'! to get little advice Just tc
find out what your opinion is"
"Well. sir. state your case" lacon-
ically remarked Elkanor.
We'll, you see. squire. we had a
kind of cattle show down at Our end
of the town, YOU know. last week a
Tuesday. Well, you see, | got into a
into little bit OF scrape there. You
know Bill Walker, | s'pose?"
II can't say | do" said Elkanor.
Don't know Bill Walker! Heavens
and airth, squire! Everybody knows
Bill Walker. ruther guess you
know him squire. Just think min.
ute"
Perhaps so; but go on with your
case, you please, aud let Bill Walk
er 60"
Yes. hut really, now thought you
knew B,ll. Why. | swan, squire, you
must know him. Bill Walker is the
man that wears that old"
But we will not inilict our readers
with Mr.. Tarbox's luminous descrip.
ton of Bill Walkers wearing apparel.
Suffice it that he did describe the said
Walkers apparel in discourse OF
about ID minutes. after which he spent
half an hour IN telling how he and
Bill had had fight together, aud
then eked ont the rest ot the morning
by telling what they had fought To.
gether for. He was in the midst of
this when Elkamor heard the distant
dinner bell ring. Elkanor hadn't
been in the profession long enough to
know that lawyers are generally sup
posed not to need dinners. So he cut
short his clients tale with
The amount of the whole matter.
Mr.. Tarhox. So far as can see from
your own story. is that you think Bill
Walker stole one of your sheep and
acknowledge that you have been and
taken one Of his"
That's it, squire; you've hit it
'dzactly.'
but you have no business to take
one of Bill Walkers sheep"
why, Bill Walker took one oi
mine"
Perhaps SO; but can you prove that
faci?'
"Prove it! Thunder and light.
ming! ! should hope so. / can prove
that fast enough"
"Who'll swear to it?"
"Why, anybody will swear to it.
"And what might anybody's name
be?' inq uired Elkanor. "Did you see
Bill take the sheep or have anything
to do with it?"
"N0. didn't see him."
"Well, do you know anybody who
did p
Il can't say | do 'dzactly, hut thun.
der and lightning, squire. Bill Walk.
er is just the sort of fellow to steal
sheep. I'll swear to that"
Yes, but that won't do. Ny opin.
ion, Mr. !arbox, is that you had bet.
ter give Bill Walker his sheep and
get yours back whenever you can. II
is your shortest way out Of the scrape
sir"
"Do you really think 81, squire?"
Il don't think anything about the
matter. know So"