Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1907-05-31
DANGER SIGNALS.

sSsts, IuSteu lndL Work TO my law
yers-and, like every man who ever
absolutely trusted an important divi-
sion of his affairs to another, I was
severely punished. One morning my
eye happened to light upon a minor
paragraph in a newspaper 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" But
why did | call up my lawyers to ask
them about it? It's mystery to me.
All / know Is that, busy as / was,
something inside me compelled me to
drop everything else and hunt that
'joker" down.
| 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 nave U06uJ Ol llG WdlChOuI III
the locks and the tones and the ges-
lures that are just shade off the
natural; and feel that do SAKE no
injustice when | say his tone was, not
a shade, but full color. off the nat
ural So 1 was prepared for what he
said when he returned to the tele-
phone. I'm sorry, Mr.. Blackjack, but
fn law hands
that bill at this moment"
"Why not?" said !, in the tone that
makes an employee jump as if whip
lash had cut him on the calves.
He had jumped all right, as his
voice showed Its not in our file"
said he. Its house bill No. 427, and
Ats apparently not here"
1.-THE hell you say!" l exclaimed.
"Why?"
q really can't explain" he pleaded.
and the frightened whine confirmed
my suspicion.
II guess not" said 1, making the
words significant and suggestive.
"And you're in my pay to look after
such matters! But you'll have to ex-
plaiu. If this turns out to be serious.
Apparently our file of bills is COM
olete EXCEPT that one" he went on.
II suppose it was lost in the mall
and very stupidity didn't notice the
gap in the numbers"
Stupid isn't the word I'd use, said
L with a laugh that wasn't OF the
kind that cheers. And l rang of and
asked for the state capitol on the
slong distance"
Before l got my connection SAKE
whose Office was only two blocks
away, came clustering in. THE DO.
has been discharged. Mr.. Blackjack
he began.
what boy?" said |.
.'The boy in charge Of the bill al
the boy whose business 1t was
keep the file complete
"Send him to me, you damne
seoundrel." said /. I'll give him
1ob What do you take me for an
way? And what kind of a coWardi
hound are you to disgrace an innocer
how as a cover for your own crooke
work ?"
"Really. Mr.. Blackjack. this is mos
extraordinary" he expostulated.
"Extraordinary? call it erin
snal" | retorted Listen to me- 70
look after the legislation calendars e
me and for Langdon, and for Ito
buck and for Melville, and for ma
a dozen others of the biggest ma
ciars in the country. It's the nc
imnortant work you do for US. !
Won as shrewd and careful lawy
&c there is at the bar, want me
believe YOU trusted that work to
how, If YOU did, you're damn 10
If you didn't, you're a damn seou
drel. There's no more doubt IN
mind than in yours which OF tho
horns has YOU sticking on It.
lyon are letting your quick temp
cot away with you, Mr.. Blackiocl
he deprecated.
astop lying" l shouted. I KIN
-, nod heen doing some skuldugge
when first heard your voice on
telephone. And II neeaea any p.o
tba meek way you've taken my ao1
S.o,Id furnish it, and to spare.
Inet then the telephone bell fa
and | got the right department.
osted the clerk to read house olil
e. contained i've short paragrap
The Joker was in the third, "h
aaya the state canal commission
rsgbt ITO institute condemnation
aaedings and to condemn, ana
oholish any canal not exceeding
ant,es in length and not part OF
nonnected canal system Of me sta
Wben I hung up the receiver /,
" Inscribed that had forgotten , :,
50 So waiting. He made some 81
s "an | wheeled on him. ! nee
? vent If be hadn't oeeh inc
o,,,a have smashed char.
s .no was he-and l kicked nm !
s :, NV private once and would IL,
s,.oEed him out through the aa, al, :
~ The outer hall. had ne no' u, Z
. n.ad himself sozether and run -
1ack-rabbit,