Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1906-09-07
DANCER SIGNALS.

V.
DANCER SIGNALS.
AZ that time | did not myself 20
over the bills before the legislatures
OF those states in which | had inter.
ests. 1 trusted that work to my law.
yers-and, like every man who ever
absolutely trusted an important diyi.
sion Of his affairs to another, was
severely punished; One morning my
eye happened to light upon a minor
paragraph in a newspaper-a list OF
the small bills yesterday approved
by the governor" In the list was one
defining the power of sundry com.
missions Those words seemed TO
me somehow to spell Joker" BIT
why did | call up my lawyers to ask
them about it? It's a mystery to me.
All | know is that, busy as was.
something inside me compelled me TO
drop everything else and hunt that
Joker" down.
l got Saxe-then senior partner in
Browne, SAKE & Einstein-on the
phone, and said: Just see and tell
me, will you, what is the bill defining
the power of sundry commissions
the bill the governor signed yester.
day."
Certainly, Mr.. Blackjack" came
the answer. My nerves are. and al.
ways have been, on the watchout for
the looks and the tones and the ges-
lures that are just a shade off the
natural; and | feel that | do SAKE no
injustice when | say his tone was, not
shade, but full color, off the nat.
ural. So was prepare! for what he
said when he returned to the tele
phone. I'm sorry, Mr.. Blackjack. but
we seem unable to lay our hands on
that bill at this moment"
why not?" said |, in the tone that
makes an employe jump as if a whip.
lash had cut him on the calves.
He had jumped all right, as his
voice showed. IT'S not in our file"
said ne. ITS house bill No. APT, and
us apparently not here"
The hell you say" | exclaimed.
"Why?"
/ really can't explain" he pleaded,
and the frightened whine confirmed
my suspicion.
1 guess not said l, making the
words significant and suggestive.
And you're in my pay to look after
such matters! But you'll have to ex.
plain, if this turns out to be serious /"
Apparently our file of bills is com.
plete except that one," he went on.
1 suppose it was lost in the mail.
and | very stupidity didn't notice the
gap in the numbers"
otuplu isn't the word I'd use," said
l, with a laugh that wasn't of the
Kind that cheers. And | rang off and
asked for the state capitol on the
long distance"
Before | got my connection SAKE
whose Office was only two blocks
away, came clustering in. The boy
has been discharged, Mr.. Blackjack !"
he began.
What boy?" said |.
The boy in charge of the bill file
the boy whose business it was to
keep the file complete"
Send him to me, you damned
scoundrel," said l. I'll give him a
job. What do you take me for any.
way? And what kind of a cowardly
mound are you to disgrace an innocent
boy as cover for your own crooked
work."
Really, Mr.. Blackjack. this is most
extraordinary" he expostulated.
Extraordinary? | call it Grim.
lnal' | retorted. Listen to me. You
look after the legislation calendars for
me, and for Langdon, and for Roe
buck, and for Melville, and for half
a dozen others of the biggest fnan.
ciers in the country. It's the most
important work you do for us. Yet
you, as shrewd and careful a lawyer
as there is at the bar, want me to
peleye you trusted that work to a
boy! If you did, you're a damn fool.
II you didn't, you're a damn scoun.
drel. There's no more doubt in nv
mind than in yours which of those
horns has you sticking on it."
You are letting your quick temper
get away with you, Mr.. Blackjack"
he deprecated.
Stop lying!" / shouted. 81 knew
you had been doing some skulduggery
when first heard your voice on the
telephone. And if | needed any proof
the meek way you've taken my abuse
would furnish it, and to spare"
Just then the telephone bell rang
and | got the right department and