Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-07-30

Elkanor Bunker was lawyer, new
ly fedged, and as yet without a client.
His shingle, with
ELEANOR BUNKER.
Counselor and Attorney at Law.
In letters as bright as gold-leaf could
make them, had gone up the day be-
fore, and his library, rather a scant
pattern, had just arrived, and Elkanor
had spent the last fifteen minutes in
putting that up, too; after which Elka-
nor seated himself again in his old
armchair, and musing, rested.
''Oh, for a good, fat CLIENT" sighed
Elkanor, after half 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
was heard in the passage, a rap at the
door, and in stalked. a gaunt, bony,
siX-footer, with an OXgOad in one hand
and an undressed sheepskin in the
other Elkanor knew his customer, an
old acquaintance, misery as the day
is long when days are the longest"
He coolly pushed out chair to him,
and then busted himself with some
books and papers that lay before him,
with an appearance of industry decid
his visitors entrance.
You seem to be plaguy busy this
morning, squire" said Mr.. Tarbox,
after a silent session of some fifteen
minutes.
Rather busy, sir
We'll, then, I guess I won't inter-
rupt you, squire, seem as you are
busy"
ct is my business, sir, to be inter
rupted," remarked Elkanor.
Yes, l know it is; but you see | did
not exactly call on business. 1 only
wanted to get a little advice; just to
find out what your opinion is"
well, sir state your case" lacon-
ically remarked Elkanor.
well, you see, squire, we had kind
Of cattle show down a. cur end Of the
town, you know, last week a-Thursday.
wei, yOu SSe, SoI IhCo d hCCl0 pAC
of a scrape there. You know Bill
Walker, | s'pOse?"
Il can't say l do" said Elkanor.
Don't know Bill Walker! Heavens
and airth, squire! everybody knows
Bill Walker / ruther guess you know
him, squire Jest think minute
perhaps so; but go on with your
case, if you please, and let Bill Walker
60"
Eyes, but raaly, now I thought you
knew Bill. Why, 1 swan, squire, you
must know him. Bill Walkers the
man that wears that old"
But we will not inf1ict on our read
ers Mr. Tarbox's luminous description
of Bill Walkers wearing apparel. Suf-
flee it that he did describe the said
Walkers apparel in a discourse of
about fifteen minutes, after which he
spent half an hour in telling how he
and Bill had had a fight together, and
then eked out the rest of the morning
by telling what they had fought to-
gether for. He was in the midst of this
when Elkanor heard the distant dinner
bell ring. Elkanor hadn't been in the
profession long enough to know that
lawyers are generally supposed not to
need dinners. So he cut short his
clients tale with:
'The amount of the whole matter,
Mr.. Tarbox, so far as l can see from
your own story, is that you think Bill
. Mol toll Of
acknowledged that you have been and
taken one of his"
That's it, squire; you've hit it ex-
actly."
But you have no business to take
one of Bill Walkers sheep"
why, Bill Walker took one of
mine"
Perhaps so; but can you prove that
fact?"
prove it! Thunder and lightning!
I should hope so. 1 can prove that fast
enough"
| Who'll swear to it?''
/ why, anybody will swear to it."
''And what might anybody's name
be?" inquired Elkanor Did you see
Bill take the sheep or have anything
1 to do with it?''
NO l didn't see him"
We'll. do you know anybody who
did,"
Il can't say l do 'dzactly; but,
thunder and lightning, squire! Bill
Walker is just the sort of fellow to
steal sheep. I'll swear to that"
Yes, but that won't do. My opin-
ion, Mr.. Tarbox, is that you had better
give Bill Walker his sheep and get
yours back whenever you can. It is
your shortest way out of the scrape
sir"
do you really think so, squirrel"
: Il don't think anything about the
matter. l know So
Wal, that what's Bill said Squire
Ketchum, down to Walkerville, said
But I didn't raaly believe him. How
somever, if you both say so I s'pose ii
must be so. It's an alfred hard case
though. I swan it is" Here Mr.. Tar
box pulled out his watch.) ''FuI-lo
most 2 o'clock; l must be goin', that's
fact" And Mr. Tarbox gathered to-
J gether his 'fxings" and made for the
door.