Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-02-14

circumstance quite distinctly. / had
left the court and was proceeding down
the. Old Bailey in the direction of
Ludgate Hill, when heard my name
pronounced.
Turning round l discovered to my
astonishment the two men had seen
in the court, and who had seemed to
take such an interest in the case. The
smaller was guiding his friend along
the crowded pavement with dexter
ity that was plainly the outcome of q
long practice. When / stopped, they
stopped also, and the blind man adj
dressed me. His voice was deep, and
had a note of pathos in 1t impossible
to describe. 1t may have been that
l was 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 not2"
inquired the taller of the men.
THAT is my name" admitted.
"What can do for your"
"If we could persuade you to vouch-
safe us an hour of your valuable time
we should be more grateful than we
could say" the man replied. 1--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"
"But why have you not come to me
before?" inquired. You have seen
me in court every day. Why do you
wait until the case is at an end7"
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
would wait and familiarize ourselves
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 very high compn.
ment." I said. "but cannot give you
decision at once. must hear what
It is that you want me to do and have:
time to think it over, before can an
swer you. That is my invariable rule,
and never depart from 1t. Do you
know my ofice?".
WE know it perfectly" returned the
blind man. ut would be strange II we
did not, seeing that we have stood OUT
side it repeatedly, trying to summon
up courage to enter. Would 1t be pos
sible for you to grant US an interview
to-night2"
II fear not" said. 1T 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 1t is only certain
class of cases that care to take up per-
sonally."
"We are not afraid Of our case" the
man replied. II doubt If there has ever
been another like it. fancy you your
self will say so when you hea the evil
dence have to offer. It is not as If
weswere destitute. We are prepared to
pay you we'll for your services, but we
must have the very best that England
can supply"
Ny readers must remember that
this conversation was being carried on
at the corner of Ludgate Hill and tho
Old Bailey. Curious glances were be-
ing thrown at my companions by pass
ers-by, and so vehement were the tall
mans utterances becoming that q
small crowd was gradually collecting
In our neighborhood.
VERY WE'LL" said, "if you are
really DESTROYS of consulting me, 1 shall
be very glad to see you at my office at
ten o'clock tomorrow morning. I
must ask you, however, not to be late.
as have several other appointments"
aWe 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 ct ten
t'1lSvk DH1s1ue1lSs" :.