The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-01
cADwALLADER's OLD FIDDLE.

I the reputation OF DelIS uceG ulc
For two years he had chung 10 his almost
mental position in the law office OF
BurreH, Jones & Burreli without winning
any laureis or any considerable fees lie
lived ike a hermit and worked Ike 4
slave but he didn't arrive 10 any pisr
pose, his clothes were getting fr5He cd
and his chances even as "a Possibility
| were diminishing instead OF Increasing
| lie slept IN the Office, doing chores Sc
cretIy in the early morning hours, -ead-
ing necessarily. wearing collars on both
sides and turning his cuffs till the limits
| Of economy and patience seemed 10 have
! been reached.
He kept his old fiddle under the big
| book case in Jones Office. and played il
I were tired OF the books and his fam
isled heart yearned for ccmpanionship.
| Burrell senior dropped in one night after
I the theater, and caught him playing
/ some old fugue that sounded especially
dreary il the deserted Offices
You'd better put in your time read
/ ing law" growied the head of the firm
/ scOwling at the young lawyer; you've
! been here over year. and you're not
worth your salt yet. Why in h don't
you get a move on, John?"
After that Cadwallader was the butt OF
| all the office jokes. They called him
| Fiddler John and "Cadwallader the
/ Bard, and the years of his faithful serv-
! itude were swept away in the light breeze
l OF laughter. But he had the stubborn
| Scotch perseverance, and bore his mar
{ tyrdom ike stole. de could stand the
furtive irony Of Burrell senior and Jones.
but the quips of young Burren enraged
him to suilen silence.
The ass" thought John, as he stitched
| another patch on his ragged overcoat,
he'd starve. too, II his father didn't
! keep him up. II I got half the chances
he's had I'd be member of the firm on
my merits by this time. And if they
ever staTVe me out, II they ever do, l
won't do thing 10 that feather-head.'
The most important case of the year
was Hoxie VS.. Deland, and the Burrells
and Jones kept Cadwallader busy for
weeks digging for precedents and doing
the drudgery in the case. Sometimes he
would get - all in a heap and some
times a kind word, but there was little
chance for fame or profit in the grinding.
Supplying routine OF his duties Two
days before the case was to be called
Burren senior fell i'll, and the next morn
ing Jones, who was handling il. rushed
into the office Tuning.
BY the Lord, George" he roared at
young BurrelI, heres a pretty mess.
I've got TO go 70 Omaha tonight-got TO
do you hear? Your father is sick, and
case. 1t comes up tomorrow morning,
and we must have p continuance. See?'
''Wel, We'll get g continuance. Wen
see Clifford and
See the d. bawled Jones, slamming
a book against the wall, hes the mean
est, orneriest, cussedest old coyote in
Chicago tn tickle him to death TO get
a chance to refuse. We have no excuse
anyhow. You might as well ask loan of
a miser." And Jones paced the Office
like a Gagged lion. And I've got TO go,
ne muscd aloud, biting hts lip, I've got
to. It's the Dillingham; case at Omaha.
We lose 5000 if 1 stay. and If 1 so old
ClinordH beat US"
Cadwallader had his nose in a law book
when Jones entered. but now he was
standing alongside the fretted attorney.
Mr.. Jones" he said. gently, Il think
I can get Clifford to agree to a contin-
uance. l.
John. you're a fool, growled Jones,
sneering; you don't know Clifford; he
wouldn't yield a point OF do a graceful
thing for anyone. Besides, he hates Bur
reIl and me as the devil hates holy water.
Scat, joint He'd throw you out of the
Office
well. I'm willing to give him a try"
said the drudge.
by George. then try roared Jones.
with a fash OF appreciation; try it,
John. Do you know him.
We'll, ! know about him" said the
neophyte, sinking a glance at the scorn-
ful junior Burrell; anyhow. 1 cant do
worse than fail
IN give you so II you succeed. Fifty,
Hear that. John? But mind YOU, no
verbal business. l wouldn't trust the
old cormorant on his oath. Make him
write it down. sign it and address it 10
the court. It's $50 for you If you win"
Noon came and passed and at >
o'clock Jones came bustling in, stood be-
side John for an instant and sneered:
well have you lost your nerve. or
was that a bluff you made this morn
ing?'
CadwalIader put down his book, looked
at the clock, sighed q bit deprecatngly
and left the office. Jones sat about and
fumed for an hour, glaucing at his watch
and cursing Clifford, the case. John and
everybody connected with his law bust
ness. His train was TO leave at s. At
he was in a fury of excited disappoint-
ment Then Cadwallader came in. went /
into the rear office, pulled out his old /
fiddle, and, passing Jones as he went out, !
said:
IN be back in en- hour. Mr.. Jones. /
Have q little patience. please.
Jones could have thumped the blase 1
underling for his GOODNESS. After vast !
ing the whole day to come after his mis- I
cradle fiddle and walk out with it SEEM I
ed 10 the busting lawyer the acme OF /
wanton levity.
"In wait an hour for that IDIOT" he 1
grunted. but, by the everlasting. il he 4
comes back without ar least having 4
seen Clifford III FIRE him out of this office 4
forever
lie was IN fine frenzy when John /
came back with his fiddle under his arm 4
and dreamy look of patient resignation 4
on his broadi face.
''Weu2' asked Jones. ready to murder 4
the imperturbahle young man. "Wen2"
Cadwaliader took of his coat reached
into his inside pocket. pulled out a note.
handed it 10 Jones, and SUNK into the
dark TO bcstow his old fiddle.
How in the name Of God did you get
ito sang Jones. dancing with delight as
he read the precious writing. Did you
hypnotize him? Was he drunk
lie was counting out the 81 he had /
promised. and John had folded It away
IN has inside vest pocket before he an
swered-
You know clifford lives Up n the old
NcClel!and building. and he's got an old
lrgan up there. he plays Il every after
sooa-old fugues and etudes that nobody
SHOWS. KEe plays well. t0o-a hobby with
him. I guess, and the only one De has.
Nobody ever goes near him, and he Jocks
himself ia every afternoon ard PLAYS the
ahere eise. and that's why CID clifford
1uTies himself IL that dirty OLD buiid-
What the d. has that got 20 do with
he conGGuance2 grinned TIE radiant
Zones.