Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1902-07-31
hs@ssss 80 5vefAEAta ta@sAeaa

speaking confidently 10 you. But L GER
tainly am gaining. A little business IL
coming mo way. and / am establishing
myself slowly with men who can give me
more. Then there is the Land. In another
six months / will have title to that and
We can be married. Think Of 1t! Married
In six months we who have waited SO
long and without that l fear we would
have to wait another two years before
my income from the law alone would en-
able me to care for n wife. / have told
you the history OF that barren tract doZ-
ems of times. sweetheart: how my father
secured his claim to II, how he neglected
It. how irri9a ton and the development OF
contiguous property gave 1t a sudden val
ue. how he found the title clouded by
prior claim when he came TO perfect II.
how he failed to find the other claimant.
how he tried TO straighten the matter out
legally and all that. 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 ho put down his pen as a
neat but poorly dressed woman en-
tered.
Lawyer TelfordF' she asked hest
tatingly.
"Telford Is my name," he answered.
What can do for your
Il 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
and disliked to ask even advice as a
charity Indeed her next words show
ed this.
Maybe l can pay you." she said.
IF can, will. Maybe I 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, Il know that you
will, and whether you can pay me or
not you shall have the best advice that
| can give YOU"
Thank you SIR" she answered, TAX
ing the chair and producing some pa
pers from beneath her shawl. "The
other lawyer wouldn't even listen to
me when l said l had no money, but
told me to come to you. And I'm glad
l did, for know that you'll be honest
with me. You see, / found some pa
pers in an old box after my husband
died-hed been bedridden for long
time-and l didn't want to burn them
without knowing what they were. /
read them through, but l 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 1t seems as II they ought to
represent something"
Telford took the papers she offered,
and at the first glance his face became
pale, but he 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
thereT' she asked.
mo" he answered shortly. I'm con
sidering what's best to be done"
He got up and walked to n 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 oil"
Suppose l should tell you they were
worth $400 or $500" he suggested,
speaking with an effort and in voice
strangely unlike the courteous, cheer
full tone In which lie had first address
ed her.
"Oh, that would be splendidr' she
cried.
Would you sell them for thatT'
Would II" she repeated jubilantly.
"Why, Harry cpuld have some new
school clothes, and so could Ellen.
And maybe Jessie could have some
music lessons-she has such good
voice-and | wouldn't have TO worry
about the rent for-for-- 1t wouldn't
last so very long, would It? But l
could be making more all the time, as
much as / am now, and 1t would be
huCu al utlp nut YOU Ic uOl JOhIHb WIN
me?' she suddenly inquired anXiously.
you'll take $500 and be satisfied?"
he asked, with cold deliberateness. ig-
noring her question.
'If you advise It," she replied.
He gave barely perceptible start.
1t was professional advice that he was
called upon TO give. His honor as
lawyer was involved as well as his
honor as man, and IT served to make
the path of duty, already clear, just
little clearer. But the temptation was
great-so great, in fact, that he was
afraid of himself She would accept
$500 on his advice. 1t was small for
tune to her and the children. All. the
childrenl What difference might 1t not
make In their livesi Fate offered him
a large bribe for his honor-personal
and professional-and the future OF
these children, who would never know
what they had lost and he had gained.
what will be your fee?' she asked
doubtfully. III have to pay that out
of the $500, won't 1? And know law
yers charge lot"
"There will be no fee for me-" he re-
piled, with sudden decision, and then
he returned to his desk and wrote n
name and address on the back of one
OF his cards, which he handed to her.
''Take your papers to that man. be-
said, speaking rapidly, as IL afraid he
would reconsider what he wished to
say. "He is an honest and successful
lawyer and will tell you what to do"
Aren't you an honest lawyerT she
asked, bewildered.
''If were not" he answered bitterly,
II would not be sending you to any one
else"
'If you are" she said, with her first
display of spirit during the interview,