Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1902-06-28

take such n intei EST in the case. The
smaller was guiding his friend along
the crowded pavement with a dexter
ity that was plainly the outcome of
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
was a 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 notW
inquired the taller of the men.
'That is my name" l admitted.
"What can l do for you?"
eff we could persuade you to youch-
safe us an hour of your valuable time
we should be more grateful than we
could say" the man replied. ''We 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"
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
of you," he answered. "Our case is so
large and of such vital Importance to
US, that we did not desire to run any
risk of losing you. We thought we
g.,
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 we
are anxious to. do is to induce you to
interest yourself in it and take it up"
you pay me a very high compi
ment," | 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 l can an
swer you. That is my invaria bic rule,
and l never depart from it. Do you
know my Officer"
eve know it perfectly" returned the
blind man. cit would be strange if we
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. 81 am tired,
and stand in need of rest. If you care
to come tomorrow morning, l shall be
very pleased to see you. But you must
bear in mind the fact that my time is
valuable, and that it is only a certain
class of cases that ! care to take up per-
sonally."
.'We are not afraid of our case" the
man replied. 81 doubt if there has ever
been another like it. fancy you your
self will say so when you hear the evil
dence I 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 chances were be-
ing thrown at 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.
Every well,'' [ said, eff you are
really DESTROYS of consulting me, shall
be very glad to see you a my Office at
ten o'clock tomorrow morning.
must ask you, however, not to be late,
as have several other appointments"
eve 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
will be with you tomorrow at ten
o'clock punctually."
He thereupon bade me good-by, and,
raising his hat politely, was led along
the street by his companion in an OPP
posite direction to that I was TAX
ing. They seemed delighted that I had
given them an appointment, but for
my part | am afraid was toe. absorbed
by the memories of the day, and the
punishment that had been allotted to
the two principal members in the
swindle, to think very much of them
and their business. Indeed, although
[ made note of the appointment, it
was LOU Until L ldQ arrived at the OIL
flee on the following morning that I
recollected their promised visit. / had
just finished my correspondence and
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 I took up bore the
name of Septimus Codd, that of the
second, Mr.. George Kit'water. When
[ had finished the letter I was in the
act of debating, babe the clerk ad-
NIT them, and moment later the
blind man and his companion whom I
had seen on Ludgate Hill the previous
evening were ushered into my pres
ence. [ cannot remember a more ven
cradle appearance than that present
ed by the taller man. His was person
atty that would have appealed fore
IDLY to any student of humanity. It
was decidedly an open countenance,
to which the long white beard that de-
scended almost to his waist gave IN
added reverence. His head was we'll
shaped and well set upon his shout