Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-02-25

hearted old chrysanthemum! I should
like to give them both beans"
Syne smoothed the young lady S feathers
n remarked how the little turquoise
brooch he had given her suited her hair,
and how much he would like to complete
the set with q hatpin and q bracelet to
match, and wouldn't she do him a serv-
ice? He vas distantly related to a friend
of the editor, and wouldn't she, like a good
girl, give the boastful, conceited little imp
some small encouragement for one night
only? She could entertain him as Syne's
guest after hours and extract from him all
he knew, while Syne would be tremen-
dously asleep on the other side of the par
tition.
The case had been set down for trial,
and it wanted but a week or so in all
probability before the hearing of Petto
versus Syne, as the high court of judica-
ture somewhat Familiarity described the
parties to the coming legal flutter, when
the defendant called upon his legal adviser
and made a most irregular and l was 60
ing to add astounding request, were it not
that a solicitor worth the name makes it a
pride to meet unmoved anything that may
occur to other people. The solicitor ele-
waited his eyebrows, smiled dryly and in
quired, with what abject?"
"Well, I've an idea l can settle this case,
II / want you as an old friend, not as
my adviser, to humor my madness. 1
want a letter Of introduction to the So
licitor OF the other side."
my dear sir, you don't quite appreci-
ate your request. Firstly, it is hopelessly
irregular; secondly, showing the white
feather would fearfully increase their de-
mands; thirdly, counsel would wash their
hands of the whole business if it got to
their ears, and as to the consequences to
myself-oh, til quite out Of the question:"
There was a long tussle before the So
%licitor, with many warnings, and more
than reluctantly, gave him the letter and
wished him well out of it.
The next morning saw him at Binster,
and he duly presented his letter at that
classic legal emporium known as 2, The
Cloisters. The open mouthed wonder of
the junior clerk as he returned, requesting
Syne to be seated, sufficiently indicated
the reception of the letter. There was
much banging of doors and vibration of
electric bells, and half an hour elapsed be-
fore he was desired to walk this way by
the same junior clerk, and with an air of
al executioner leading him to the en-
braces of the Iron maiden"
As became the adviser to half the coun-
ty, an alderman in esse and a mayor in
posse, Rupert's was a fine presence, which,
moreover, vas not detracted from by his
own conviction that an eminent counsel,
if not a judge, had been lost in him. He
stood with his back to the fireplace and
magnifcently directed the defendant in
Petto versus Syne into the dock, or rather
a chair. "You are acquainted with the
contents Of this letter? The irregularity.
if not worse, of this visit is quite beyond
the power of a lay mind to grasp and can
be condoned only on that ground. In
view, however, of the high esteem in
which l hold your adviser, added to a
keen sympathy that he should nave to de-
fend such a case and, further, as he par
TALLY indicates your desire to bring about
a settlement personally, 1 have waived my
plain duty to have you turned out and
leave the case to the severity of a jury and
will listen to anything you wish to urge
in mitigation. But if you have come here
with anything in your mind but a large
IL NOly q lHC AlObU
strongly advise you to return''-and he
metaphorically assumed the black cap and
added-"to the place from whence you
come, thence to the place Of execution,
ETC."
my solicitor said as much"
"And if, sir, he led you to expect''-he
waved his hand judicially-"that my eli
ent, the most respected man in this city,
whose whole life is held up as a model to
copy, distantly related to Earl Frimp, and
who numbers among his friends Countess
Devoyate and the Hon. G.. Darlington,
who, 1 may add, is about to ally himself
with my family-if he led you to expect
that hundreds of pounds would settle the
matter he did you a grievous wrong. 10
sell a few extra copies of your deservedly
execrated publication, The Bolt
"Don't you think, humbly interrupted
the defendant, 'that as between two men
of business we might dispense with legal
embroidery"
"As you will, as you will. l wished
merely in your interest to indicate the
trend of any possible finality of this suit
"What should you say to e2, 900 and
costs as between solicitor and client?''
"Well, sir'-unable to conceal his de-
light never advise vindictiveness. l
shall insist on my client favorably consid-
ering the offer, not for the compensation,
mind, but for the straightforward way
you have met tho matter. And l will ad-
init frankly that / regularly read The Bolt,
and it is a great reformer-a great reform
er, sir. And when would you be prepared
to-er-end the suit?'
- tWblnnyn1s voII n rTanurn1 IN NOV thu
money"
"I-I pay!'
Ives, you. You don't mind me smok-
ing?' 1t was ingenious, but risky. "The
Bolts comments, as you are aware, were
not a bit too strong, but. my enterprising
sub elaborated j. Petto into James Petto,
the real culprit being John. 1t makes of
course all the difference, You saw it did,
and your sight was s~harpened by the fact
that you had bullied your daughter into
practically throwing herself at the feet of
that bankrupt wastrel, the Hon. G.. Dial
lington. Further, that you did not know
which way to turn for the necessary cost
Of the wedding and her dowry, and, best
of all, you knew, Or thought you knew,
that The Bolt would settle before the case
came into court"
"And If your lies were truth, what
them"
"Oh, Of course it does not count for
much, but there is a further matter, the
consideration Of which may make the lord
high keeper Of the family skeletons of
Binster think a little. 1t may cause that
luminary to find the $4,000 somehow,
anyhow, and present them to a charity
(you may have the kudos) to avoid expo
sure and being struck off the rolls. 1t may
make him give his daughter to the man
she loves and avoid utter ruin. You
cursed thief There is no James Petto!