The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1906-08-16
A Private SappeE
[Copyright, 1906, by r. Douglas.1

| 1t was to be private little supper
with a game Of poker afterwarss
The guests arrived in due season, the
supper was fingered over and at length
concluded. and the party was about to
adjourn to the card table in the library
when the harmony prevailing was sud
denly interrupted. A sixth man enter
ed the room unannounced and aavanc-
ed to the ta0Ie. He was a man about
forty years old, with an iron jaw.
Gentlemen he began, as all looked
at him interogatively and as the law
yer elevated his eyebrows in surprise,
81 owe you an apology for this in;or-
ruption. The fact is I have been in the
habit Of droppi-S il here and there un-
announced for the last ten years, ana
it has become sort of second nature
to me. The less fuss mace oGer me
the better for my business. My cccupa-
ton is relieving my fellow me2"|
With that he poured himself out a
glass Of wine and slipped it slowly and
with evident satisfaction dis he looked
around.
"Are we to understand" said the
lawyer as he toyed with his knife,
that you are a burglar, robber or
something of that ilk?'
Your perspicacity does you credit"
smiled the unknown.
! "Well, you are a nervy fellow said
the lawyer as he wondered whether
! the thing was real or farce.
THANK YOU We have to have nerve
in this business. As you observe, I
clear away a space here and place my
two suns on the table l shall have
TO begin with you, Mr.. Blank, as the
| host and-ask you to shell out. You are
not armed, and neither are any Of
your guests AS for the servants, they
don't count AS a lawyer you cannot
| fail TO see that | have my case half
won at the start
Don't play the fool here" cautioned
| the lawyer as he Strengthened up in
his chair You have already laid
yourself liable to severe punishment"
81 will not d.,9Nte your knowledge
of the Law, r2E o~" 81. but catching
comes before h,,..s-....r ! also request
you not to play tie fool. IL Other
words, don't drive me to extremes.
You have wad in your pocket ready
for the poker game. will trouble
you for it,
| The lawyer glanced at his four
| guests and saw that none of thcm
would support him in being obstinate.
| He took another look at the iron jaw
of the stranger and then passed over
roll containing several hundred dol
lars.
"Some of you may think | need al
excuse for being engaged in this pro-
! fession," said the stranger as he peck
| eted the money and looked 1t each
guest in turn. Let me say that / am
/ simply following the lines laid down
by each and every one of you.
Take the case of the host, for in
stance. He is a great criminal law
yer. Lawyers engaged in enforcing
/! the law do not have summer homes
and bank accounts He has made his
fame IN lodging and breaking the law
It is the guilty man he always defends
and strives to pull through the meshes
of the law Years ago he cleared me.
of a criminal charge, knowing that
must be guilty He breaks the law
| So do |. The gentleman here on my
right is, | believe, a doctor and cele-
brated in his profession. Doctor, come
| down with your DUST
The doctor obeyed, and the stranger
continued:
doctor, your fees are exorbitant.
You could reduce them one-half and
still make $4,000 year You are an
eXtortiDner. You take cases that you
know you cannot cure That consti-
| tutes false pretenses. You refuse to
pay visits to poor people who cannot
pay yolr fee. That shows a spirit of
avarice and selfishness. l am really
guilty Of less in taking your money.
"The leXt gentleman know to be q
banker, as | have had some dealings
( specialized with the funds of his bank
and cane within an ace of failure and
| going T. prison. Had he failed he
would hive caused sorrow and suffer
| ing in hree or four thousand homes.
He will kindly pass his wad.
"And he next gentleman, judging by
bis looks is engaged in mercantile pur-
SUITS cntinued the caller There are
! honest Merchants among us, but there
are othes who don't call it dishonesty
when THY sell you half cotton for all
wool moi when the colors fade ON you
and the cloth ravels out. They call it
business It's q trick of the trade to
work o1dyour goods any way you can.
| The otlPr gentleman-I can't quite
make on his occupation. Will he kind
" announce it?'
I'm . stockbroker," he replied as
he shovel his money across the table
"Ah, IIsee. III take your diamond
pin as WILL Now for your watch. Now
for that ling on your finger I'm not q
graspingman, Mr.. Stockbroker, but it
is so seldom that lamb catches
wolf thaihe ought to make the most of
the opportunity. Indeed, you once sold
me stool in a gold mine which pro