The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-13
EXPECTING A SETTLEMENT
BY FRANK S. cHIsw1cK

| to come in, he commanded. sssThe case may
be worth looking Into A moment later
| Maude kingdom was seated by his desk.
They told me, Mr.. Payton5 she said
quietly, ..that you take up only criminal
cases, but work for Massey G Keller on the
same floor and thought you might beer
neighborly enough to consider nay case
Payton bit his lips. Her eyes mad said so
plainly, 'And you don't seem to be very
busy
.Quite right of you to come over. I'll be
very glad to look into the matter. / did start
| out with sort of definite policy, and can
afford to wait for something good
Some in his tone Offended the girl and she
rose.
I'm that case / beg pardon for my intru-
sion,'' she said icily.. Probably my suit
would not appeal to you.
quite the contrary he cried, alarmed. ~
am sure-er-that is to say, l assure you
wasn't referring to your case"
Half appeased, the girl sat down again.
ut is comparatively simple matter. While
my mother was alighting from a car last
night the conductor signaled the motorman TO
go ahead, and she was thrown heavily to the
street. She fractured two ribs and was Sc
verely bruised. I should like to make the
street car company pay the expense of her ill
ness, for, to be frank We can hardly afford
to let the matter pass
to be made to pay punitive damages. Well
sue them for s25, 000.''
Miss Kingdom did not share his enthusiasm.
81 should prefer she said quietly, ''to COM
promise the matter without resorting to the
courts
1t was finally agreed that Payton should
see the claim agent and endeavor to rush the
matter through as quickly as possible. This
afforded him excuse for daily visit to
Miss Kingdom, and the more he saw of her
the more he was satisfied that she was the
one woman who could make him happy. The
claim progressed slowly, as claims always do,
but finally he secured from the company an
offer of $3.50, the maximum payment in cases
settled out Of court.
This Is outrageous" said the girl when
he communicated the decision. They know
we need the money and that we will have to
take this rather than wait several years until
the case has been finally settled on appeal.
Something like sob ended the sentence,
and then she smiled bravely.
You must not think me mercenary, Mr.
Payton, but my salary is all we have, and
mother has never been strong, and the hos
pital bills must be paid
The office was empty, and Paytons SYM
pathetic brown eyes looked straight into her
own. She could stand anything just then save
sympathy. Two great, round tears rolled
down her cheeks. =-.5
Tdylou suppressed a WHO mcmahon TO KISS
away the tears and took her hand gently
in his
Believe me, Miss Kingdom, 1 have done
my best. The greatest lawyer in New York
could do no more. Six hundred and fifty is
little enough to win from corporation but,
| whether you have guessed it or not you have
won something more-the heart of your attor-
ney. If you'll marry me, you-you won t
have to worry about the street car company
/ She looked at him with trimming eyes.
''You are very good, Mr.. Payton.' she said
simply. but l could never permit you to
d, make such a sacrifice. You have done as
| much for us as any man could do. Don't
| think that because you failed to get more you
| must offer yourself in marriage" 8
! Payton nonplussed for a moment.
Sacrifice he echoed. ST you argue along
| those lines, you'll be accusing me in a mo-
| ment Of marrying you for your money. Can I
| you realize that I've been interested in you
| more than year and that I've loved you
| ever since you came into my ofice?"
| She looked up, smile breaking through
| the tears In that case she said softly
| In that case he retorted jubilantly, Il
J think I'll take my fee.''