Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1902-07-10
| DUTY'S
! PAT III
BY Elliott Flower
Copyright, 1902. by the
S. S. Mcclure Company

DAASAASSS piii iStCi Sdl III LIS
little office, writing-not a business let
ter but a love letter. "Briefess bar
rister' was a title he had jokingly Civ
en- himself, but there was something of
pathos underlying the joke In these
days an ovescrowded profession gives
little opportunity to the young lawyer
without influence to get a start, so he
had ample leisure for his love letter,
and this is what he wrote:
Dearest One--Business is rushins-that
IS. it is rushing right past my office
wish some of 1T would stop and turn in,
but have too many competitors who are
able to reach out for it., They have influ-
entail friends who turn business their
way or who secure them positions with
established firms.
Sill, dearest. you mustn't be uisheart-
enet. but know you won't be- Indeed it
seems almost insulting to say this to so
patient and faithful a sweetheart, but
am saying 1t for my own benefit rather
than for yours. The struggle is so dis
couraglng and dishea rtening at times that
can only give myself confidence by
speaE:ag confidently to you. But l GER
taiEly am gaining. \ little business is
coming my way and l am establishing
myself slowly with men who can give me
more. Then there is the land In another
six months 1 will have title to that and
we can be married. Think of it, Married
in six months, we who have waited so
long. and without that I fear we would
have to wait another two years before
my income from the law alone would en-
able me to care for a wife. I have told
you the history of that barren tract doz-
ems of times, sweetheart; how my father
secured his claim to it, how he neglected
1t, how irrigation and the development of
contiguous property gave it a sudden val
ue, how he found the title clouded by
prior claim when he came to perfect it,
how he failed to find the other claimant,
how he tried to straighten the matter out
legally and all that I like to dwell on 1t
now, sweetheart, for in only six months
more the statute of limitations will in
validate
The opening of the door interrupted
him, and he put down his pen as a
neat but poorly dressed woman en-
tered.
Lawyer Telford?" she asked hest
tatingly
''Telford is my name," he answered.
what can do for your"
II don't just know" she answered
doubtfully. I'm poor woman, with
out friends or money, and the lawyer
on the floor below told me he thought
you'd have time to look after my bust
ness"
Sends me all his charity cases, but
never any with money in Them" NUT
tered Telford to himself bitterly, but
he spoke kindly to the woman. 1t was
evident that she had seen better days
charity. Indeed her next words show
ed this.
Maybe l can pay you," she said.
IF can, will. Maybe can pay you
well. don't know. That's what
want to find out"
Something in her manner won him.
There was nothing of the mendicant
in her. She was neither aggressive nor
whining, speaking timidly, but frankly
and honestly.
Madam" said Telford, courteously
offering her chair, 81 know that you
will, and whether you can pay me or
not you shall have the best advice that
GILL give YOU
''ThanS you, SIR" she answered. tax
ing the chair and producing some pa
pers from beneath her shawl. 'gThe
other lawyer wouldn't even listen to
me when said had no money, but
told me to come to you. And I'm glad
l did, for I know that you'll be honest
with me. You see, found some pa
pers in an old box after my husband
died-he'd been bedridden for q long
time-and didn't want to burn them
without knowing what they were. I
read them through, but don't know
whether they're worth anything, and
the neighbors don't know, and had to
find somebody who did know. They're
SO legal it seems as if they ought to
represent something"
Telford took the papers she offered
and at the first glance his face became
pale, but lie read them through careful
ly. Then he leaned back in his chair,
and something in his face frightened
the woman.
"There isn't anything bad in them, is
there| she asked.
''No," he answered shortly. "Im con-
sidering what's best to be DONE"
He got up and walked to a window.
where she couldn't see his face.
"Who knows of these papersT' he
asked at last.
Zone or two Of the neighbors," she
replied. That's ALL"
Suppose should tell you they We're
worth $4OO OF $780," he suggested,
speaking with an effort and in voice
strangely unlike the courteous, cheer
ful tone in which he had first address
ed her.
"oh, that would be splendidw she
cried.
would you sell them for thatY"
Would I?' she repeated jubilantly.
why. Harry could have some new
school clothes, and so could Ellen.
And maybe Jessie could have some
music lessons-she has such a good
voice-and wouldn't have to worry
about the rent foF-for- 1t wouldn't
last so very long. would it? But I
could be making more all the time, as
much as am now, and it would be