The Washington times., 1901-09-08


win. and perhaps disyegarded abstract
| rial to the issue.
There were stories of cases won In the
face of the facts and the teeth of the
law; of wool pulled over the eyes OF
| learned justices. who, afterward. recov-
ering their sight. beheId themselves un-
just; of rogues who got their due in spite
of the ample protection, sometimes af-
forded their kind by our beneficent legis-
lation; of other such snatched red-handed
from their deserts-all through Daniel
O'Shea.
In short, he was a man who took all
cases that came. enjoyed the weaker
side. and made a point Of winning. A
kinless man, whose clients were all in all
to him; he loved them
There came to him one evening In the
dusk. after Office hours. when he was
alone, a stranger-a shifty sort of man,
who seemed afraid.
There was something, evidently. that
he wished to say. and something that
prevented him from saying it. AS rule.
before a new client left that office, O'Shea
knew him better than the client knew
himself. but from this nan he could gath
| er only so much:
That his name was Reginald Grove;
| that ne had come to O'Shea because he
had heard that the latter never failed
client or lost case, law or no law. To
which OShea replied: You do me honor,
sir"
Further. that something might happen
to or become of Mr.. Grove. In which
event Mrs. Grove might have occasion to
consult Mr.. O'Shea-
At this point the client stopped ana
seemed uncertain whether to say more or
not. Then, alarmed. as It seemed. by the
lawyers CHEEKY. well. sir. what next?''
said, I'LL think that's ALL and de-
parted suddenly. Twenty minutes later
he popped a distressful visage in at the
door and said piteously: do your best
for her. Mr.. Shea, and don't tell liv-
ing soul what I've saidi" and again dis
appeared.
O'Shea saw no mere OF Mr.. Grove. and
had long reiegated him to the list of the
loved and lost, when there came. one
day, a message from the jail, where, be-
ing admitted, he was shown faded little
woman with eyes like emerald in a pale,
set face She wore a shabby calico wrap
per. and was thin and gaunt. but had
graceful way of arranging her bones that
was not altogether unattractive. She i'm
pressed O'SheS as a rather fine woman,
whose only means of subsistence had for
some time past been sheer force OF will.
Mr. OShea?" said she, coolly.
Altogether at your service. madam"
he answered with a certain genuine def
erence he always felt for womanhood in
trouble.
Il am Mrs. Grove" said the little. pale
woman MY husband told me if ever
T in, ~ a laxr ff, en IN
1 couldn't see you. so I sent"
II shall be most glad to be Of use to
you, Mrs Grove" said O'Shea. How is
your husband?"
Dead. They think 1 did it. That's why
/ am here"
"And on what ground do they base such
a charge, Mrs. Grower saIu the iawyvl,
in his deepest tones, vastly indignant.
O'Shea made a point of believing in his
clients innocence at sight, and holding
that belief in spite of any slight incrimi-
mating evidence, such as confession or the
like. ever after.
His life was insured for my benefit.
Nobody else would have had any object,
they say
.'oho!" cried O'Shea. II see it all now.
I wondered what he meant. Make your
self easy, Mrs. Grove, III have you out
contemplated such a measure; but 1 didn't
see what he was limiting at at the time"
I'm afraid that would hardly do said
Mrs. Grove. I'VE must try some other
way"
'.Why?"
81 should lose the insurance" said she,
quietly. Il don't care for it. personally,
so much, but for the children l must
have it. We have nothing else
But your life. Mrs. Grove; your lib
erty, at least"
Il really don't care for them without
the Insurance money" said Mrs. Grove,
languidly. Il must ask you to believe
that and act accordingly"
O'Shea regarded her with undisguised
admiration-a client after his own heart.
Trust a woman for taking her own
way" said he; then. with more cere-
mony: My dear madam, 1 am proud of
you as a client. and 1 honor you as
woman-and, on my word. as a lawyer,
You shall winl'
His word as a lawyer was the strong
est pledge known to O'Shea. who wor-
SHIPPED in heart the profession he dis
graced in trickery, and when he gave it
he meant it.
Always successful as he was, it tickled
himself to win without having any idea
how 1t was to be done.
Now" said he. tell me all you know
about the matter. Hide nothing from
counsel; 1t doesn't pay
The green eyes deepened little with
thought, the thin lips Strengthened with
decision.
Very WELL" said she. I'VE lived for
years in great poverty and wretehedness |
He always lost his opportunities. |
shouldn't have minded that so much-but |
he did not treat me well. Finally. he in |
sured his life, and / pinched and scraped !
and worked to pay the first premium. 1t |
wasn't SO much on my account. He had |
made up his mind to take that way OF |
escaping his troubles. and thought he |
might as well leave his family provided |
for l think.
'I soon found him out. and begged and |
prayed and implored him to live his life |
like man and find some other way of |
providing for us. He argued awhile and |
then yielded-and l loved him then as l |
never had before. / was proud of his |
willingness to sacrifice himself and loved |
him for yielding to my wishes. We strug-
gled on somehow nearly year, when one
night / went by the shed in the dark He
was in there talking to himself. If only
dared-if l only dared he kept saying.
But I'm afraid
al went in and struck n light He was
standing on barrel with a rope about
his neck trying to get up his courage.
prom that time the sight of him dis
pusted me- / kept thinking of him as
h ,yinp always that hideous intent in his |