Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1902-04-09
take such n interest in the case. Th


long practice. When / stopped, they
stopped also, and the blind man ad-
dressed me. His voice was deep, and
had note Of pathos in it impossible
to describe. 1t may have been that
l was little sad that afternoon, for
both the men who had been condemned
to penal servitude had wives and
children, to whose pitiful condition
the learned judge had referred when
passing sentence.
You are Mr.. Fairfax, are you not?"
inquired the taller of the men.
That is my name" l admitted.
''What can / 90 for your"
IF we could persuade you to vouch.
safe Us an hour of your valuable time
we should be more grateful than we
could say" the man replied. I'VE have
an important piece of business which
it might possibly be to your advantage
to take up. At any rate, it would be
worthy of your consideration"
But why have you not come 10 me
before?" l inquired. You have seen
me in court every day. Why do you
wait until the case is at an end?'
Because we wanted to be quite sure
y :
large and Of such vital Importance TO
US. that we did not desire TO run any
risk Of losing you. We thought we
would wait and familiarize ourselves
with all that you have done in this
affair before coming to YOU. Now we
are satisfied that we could not place
our case in better hands, and what W.
are anxious to do is to induce YOU TO
interest yourself in it and take it up"
You pay me a very high compli-
ment," l said, but | cannot give YOU
( a decision at once. / must hear what
it is that you want me to do and have
time to think it over, before | can an
swer you. That is my invaria BILE rule.
and | never depart from it. Do you
know my oflice?' -
1--WE know it perfectly" returned the
blind man. at would be strange if we
I. did not, seeing that we have stood out
side it repeatedly, trying to summon
up courage TO enter. Would it be pos
sible for you to grant us an interview
tonight"
81 fear not" I said. al am tired.
and stand in need of rest If YOU care
10 come tomorrow morning, | shall be
very pleased to see you. But you must
bear in mind the fact that my time is
valuable, ard that it is only certain
class of cases that care to take up per
sonally."
I'VE are not afraid of our case" the
man replied. Il doubt if there has ever
been another like it. fancy YOU YOUR
self Will say so when you hear The evil
dcnce ! have to offer. 1t is not as if
we were destitute. We are prepared to
pay you well for your services. but we
must have the very best that England
can supply"
My readers must remember that
this conversation was being carried on
at the corner of Ludgate Hill and the
Old Bailey. Curious glances were be-
ing thrown a my companions by pass
ers-by, and so vehement were the tall
mans Utterances becoming that a
small crowd was gradually collecting
in our neighborhood.
VERY we'll" l said "if you are
really DESTROYS OF consulting me. shall
be very glad to see you It my office 1t
ten O'Clock tomorrow morning. |
must ask you, however, not to be late.
+ as have several other appointments
we shall not be late" the man an
Swered, you may rely upon that. We
have too much at stake to run any
risks of losing your assistance. We
/ viii be with you tomorrow at ten
O'Clock punctuaIy."
lie thereupon bade me good-by. and
/ raising his hat politely, was led along
the street by his companion in an op-
poSite direction to that / was talk
/ ing. They seemed delighted that / had
1 given them an appointment, but for
my part am afraid was too absorbed
by the memories Of the day. and the
/ puni> hment that had been allotted to
/ the two principal members in the
swlndle. to think very much Of them
/ and their business. Indeed. although
l made note Of the appointment, it
/ was not until ! had arrived at the Of
/ flee on the following morning that
! recolIected their promised visit. / had
/ just finished my correspondence. and
1 had directed a few letters to my man
aging clerk. when a junior entered
with two cards. which he placed be-
/ fore me. The first / took up bore the
/ name Of Septimus Codd. chat of the
/ second. Mr.. George Kitwater. When
/ ] had finished the letter I was I'm the
/ act Of debating, ] badc the clerk adj
/ INIT them. and moment later the
/ blind man and his companion whom +
/ had seen ON LuLgatc Jill the previous
/ evening were ushercd into my pres
/ ence. ] cannot remember q more ven
cradle appearance than that pres emit
. cf by the taller mau. His was person
I atty that would have appealed fore
/ IDLY 20 any student of humanity. IT
I va decidedly an open couuteuancc.
| 90 which he long white beard that de-
/ sceudcd almost 90 his waist gave an
| added reverence. Ills head was well
/ -hdped and wei set upon his houl-
I der-. bis height was six feet two if
/ an inch. and he carried himself with
/ the crectuc-s Of a man accustomed 60
AN outdoor life. He was well dressed.