The Washington times., 1906-08-05

grudge that amount"
Retain your seat for few
moments. please" said Lawyer Gooch.
arasing. and again consulting his
watch. Il have another client waiting
in an adjoining room whom had very
nearly forgotten. I win return in the
briefest possible space
The situation was now one that fully
satisfied Lawyer Goochs love OF intri-
cacy and complication. He reveled in
cases that presented such subtle prob
lens and possibilities. II pleased him
II think that he was master OF the
happiness and fate Of the three indi-
viduais who sat. unconscious Of one
another's presence. within his reach.
His old figure OF the ship glided into
his mind. Bur now the figure failed.
COR 20 have hIled every compartment
% an actual vessel would have been
70 eHdanger her safety while here.
with his compartments full. his ship
Of affairs could but sail on 20 the advan-
tage0us port of d fine. fat Zee. The
thing for him u do. Of course. was
10 wiring the best bargain he could
from some one Of his anxious cargo.
First he called 10 the Office boy:
Lock the outer door. Archibald and
admit no one Then he moved. with
long. silent strides. into the room in
which client number one waited. That
gentleman sat. patiently scanning the
pictures In the magazine with a cigar
I'm his mouth and his feet upon a table.
We'll" he remarked cheerfully. az
the lawyer entered. "have you made
up your mind2 Does $500 60 for getting
the fair lady a divorce
You mean that as "A retainer asked
Lawyer Gooch softly interrogative
Hey? No; FOR the whole lob IT'S
enough. amt it2"
My fee, said Lawyer Gooch. would
be $3.50 Five hundred dollars down.
and the remainder upon issuance Of
the divorce"
a loud whistle came from client
number one. His feet descended TO the
floor
Guess we can't close the deal" he
said. arising. II cleaned up five hun
dred dollars in little real estate dick
er down IN Susanville. I'd do anythin,
I could 10 free the lady. but It outslzes
my pile"
could you stand 81 .20O7' asked ne
lawyer. insinUatingly
Five hundred Is my limit, 7 tell you.
Guess III have 20 hunt up a cheaper
lawyer" The client put on his hat.
"Out this way. please. said Lawyer
Gooch opening the door that led into
the hallUav
As the gentleman flowed out OF the
compartment and down the stairs,
lawyer GoOch smiled TO himself Exit
Mr.. Jessup." he murmured. as he fin
gered the Henry Clay tuft OF hair at
hts ear. "And now for the forsakan
husband" He returned 20 the middle
office. and assumed a businessIike
manner.
I understand. "he said TO cliert num-
ber three. that you agree 70 pry 81. 90
II 7 bring about. or am instrl-.-ertal
in bringing about. the return cf Mrs.
Billings 20 her home. and h. s5an-
donment of her infatuated pI~.uIt or
the man for whom she has conceived
such a violent fancy. Also that the
case IS now uureservedly iu my hands
on that basis. Is that correCt2"
Entirely" said the other. eagerly
And 7 can produce the cash any time
az two hours notice"
Lawyer Gooch stood up NJ his fun
height His thin figure seemed 20 ex-
pa1d HIS thumbs sought the armhoIes
of his vest Upon his face was the look
OF sympathetic benignitv that be al
Then. sir" he said. in kindly tones.
Il think 7 can promise you an early
relief from your troubles. 7 have that
much confidence I'm my powers Of argu-
ment and persuasion. iu tne natural
impulses OF the human heart toward
good and IN the strong influence OF
q husbands unfalteriug love. Mrs.
Billings. sir. is herein that room
the LAWYERS long arm rointes 20 the
door. 7 viii call har ia az once; ar-:
our united plcadinss--'
Lawyer GO0ch paused Tor client
number three had leaped from --iS
chair as If propelled by steel springs,
and clWched his satclel.
What the devil" he exclaimed.
Earshly. "do YOU mean? That woman
i'm there thought I shook her on
forty miles back"
He ran 10 the open window, looked
ont below, and threw one leg over
the sill.
stop" cried Lawyer GOoch. in
amazement. What would you do7
Come. Mr.. Billings. and i3Ce your er-
ring but innocent wife. our combined
eutreatles cannot fail to"
Billings shouted the now thor
oughly moved client; "TH Billings you,
YOU old IDIOT
Turning he hurled lis satChd with
fury ct the lawyers head. Ii struck
that astounded peacemaker between
tie eyes, causing him 20 staCEor back
ward Il pace or two. When Lawyer
Gooch recovered his wits lie saw that
IFS client had disIpT cared. Rushing 10
the winGow. he leaned out, and saw
The rccrelut gathering himself up from
the top of a shed upon which Ae had
dropped from the sscund-story window
Without stopping 10 CoilCcJ lis lar he
thea plunged downward the rsma ming
ten feet Ia tie alley, mp which he flew
with uroligious CELEBRITY until the sur
rounding building swallowed him Up
from view.
Lawyer Gooch passed his hand
trembHngly across his brow. II was
an habitual Uct with him. serving to
clear his thoughts. Perhaps also .t
now seemed 10 seothe the spot where
a very hard alisator-hide s1tchel had
struck.
Tae satchel lay upon the floor, wide
open, with its contents spilled about.
Mechanically Lawyer Goocn stopped
10 gather up the articles The first