Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-08-11

IL - the name of Bansemer.
I9~ WI His office, on the top
most floor of dingy
building in the lower section Of the
city was not inviting. On leaving the
elevator one wound about through mar
row halls and finally peered with more
or less uncertainty and misgiving at
the half obliterated sign which said
that James Bansemer held forth on the
other side of the glass panel.
1t was whispered In certain circles
and openly avowed In others that Ban
seiner's business was not the Kind
which elevates the law. In plain
words, his methods were construed to
Of the land. Once inside the door of
his ofiice-and heavy spring always
closed 1t behind one-there was quick
evidence that the lawyer lamentably
aisregarded the virtues of prosperity.
no matter how they had been courted
and won. Although his transactions
In and out Of the courts OF that great
city bore the mark of dishonor, he
was known to have made money dur
ing the ten years OF his career as
member Of the bar.
Possibly he kept his office shabby
and unclean that it might be IN touch
with the transactions which had their
morbid birth inside the grimy walls.
There was no spot or corner In the
two small rooms that comprised his
-cha mbers" to which he could point
with pride. The floors were Uttered
with papers; the walls were greasy
and bedecked with malodorous nota-
tions. documents and pictures; the win
dows were smoky and useless: the
clerks desk bore every suggestion OF
dissoluteness.
n But little less appalling to ones aes-
thetic sense was tho clerk himself.
requatting behind his ,wretched desk.
Niias broom peered Across tho litter
~ papers and books with shaky but
epolits eyes, almost a. inviting a. tie
spider who with willy but insidfous
Aecorum draws the guileless Into bis
web.
Y II one passed muster IN the estima-
! ton Of the incomprehensible broom he
was permitted In due season to pass
shroagn a second Oppressive lookins
faodf Ahd into the private once q MI.
James Bansether. attorney 1t law and
solicitor. 1t may be remarked at this
.sarly stage that. no matter how long
ner how well. one may have known
broom, one seldom fingered to engage
IN commonplace with him. His wal
the most repelient personality imagi
Fable. When he smiled one was con
sNocious Of a shock to the nervous sys
tenn; when he SO far forgot himself al
30 laugh aloud there was a distinc,
Illustration of the word "crunching:'
when he spoke one was almost s0rr,
shat he had ears.
Bansemer knew but little of this
lreakish individuals history: no ont
else had the temerity to inquire int
HIS part or to separate 1t from his III
tarre, for that matter. Once Banseme
Ironically asked him why he had neve
married. 1t was full minute befor
the other lifted HIS eyes from the shee
Of legal cap. and by that time he wa
III fun control of his passion.
Look Mt me! Would any woma
marry a thing like meg"
This was said with such terrible cal
nestness that Bansemer took care ueS
Or to breach the subject again. Il
saw that Droom's heart was not a
steel and brass.
broom was middle aged. His Ian
body and cadaverous face were col
structed on principles not generally .
W a.. =
When erect his body swryed as II
were a stubborn reed determined
maintain It's dignity In the face Of Il
wind. He did not walk; he glide
His long. square chin, rarely cles
shaven, protruded far beyond its ns
ural orbit. Indeed, the attitude of Il
chin gave one an insight to the gree,
character OF the man. At frst CLAN
one felt that broom was reaching for
with his lower jaw to give greeti
With his teeth Instead of his hand.
His neck was long and thin. and
rundown collar was at least two sir
too large. The nose was hooked a
Of abnormal length, the tip conf
down over the short upper lip a
broad mouth. His eyes were light bl
and so intense that he was ne,
known to blink the lashes Toppi
them were deep. wayering black e.
brows that met above the nose. for
Ing an ominous. cloudy line across
base Of his thin. high forehead. 7
crown Of his head. covered by To-
broom grtnned dtnbolicallu as he
sunaed the rubbing Of his hands
Dcant strands OF black hair, was
the type known as "retreating q
pointed" The forehead ran upw,
and back from the brows almost I,
point, and down from the pima
hung the veil of hair. just as II he
draped 1t there with the same care
might have used In placing his b
hat upon q peg. His back was stool