The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-03-13

countered such a dumb scene in a
slaughter house or an automatic
statute on the pavement. SO l walk
ed up to the table, semi-conscious of
an intrusion, and broke the chasm Of
silence with: 'Is this MI. Lincoln,
attorney for --in his In
surance case?" Gently and mildly as
from a professor, the reply was SIM
ply, Yes, still holding the book as
If the thought and answer were real
ly there.
Then ! opened at blank range. 81
have come from Cincinnati to e
about the final disposition of that
case and, having just met the claim
ant, he advised me to call and see
Mr.. Lincoln who had sole charge Of
the matter. This claim has been re-
ported to us so ~.unfavorably in many
respect that it has occasioned the
delay on the part Of the company,
which does not ordinarily desire liti-
cation; so, before an attorney was
secured to defend them, / called up
to see If the case could be arranged
on It's merits without a long, expen-
sivelitigation, and, as the points
seemed to be business ones, more of
facts than of law, and, having the
papers in the case with me, l am
ready to proceed with the business,
but If you are engaged in other mat
ters, and If you will Ak a suitable
time. as there is further business
for me In the vicinity, l will shape
my plan accordingly, to meet your
convenience.
From the penetrating look Mr..
Lincoln gave, 1 concluded he was
not in the habit of being met in that
bluff and pointed way by business
folks. All the while he stood as
straight as an arrow, and held the
law book in his hand as II about to
resume reading to a court. He re-
minded me more of a college pro-
lessor than a lawyer, when he re-
piled in a quite and intellectual man
ner, saying: II am engaged at pre-
sent and expect to be SO for the en-
tire day, and not being familiar with
the details of that case. I would be
wholly unprepared to take 1t in hand
Immediately but my associate coun-
sci. whom you will find at the court
house, has given it attention from
the beginning, and IL you will see
him he can make arrangements to
attend to the case and will give 1t
the consideration desired"
This really seemed anything but
encouraging. The claimant would
not act. He had named an attorney
as having exclusive charge Of his
case who would not attend to the
matter, and named some one else not
before heard of. So / again sought
the insured and Informed him OF
Mr.. Lincoln's reference, which he
did not seem to understand, so we
both went to the court house to In
|terview the referee. After some con-
idential talk with the lawyer, the
claimant said 1t was all right. The
attorney was the exact counterpart
of Mr.. Lincoln. He was short, thick
set, of sanguine nature, prompt en-
ergetic and ready to take his coat
OF to go to work any moment with
|affable fervor.
The claimant did not impress me
as a man we'll calculated to play the
roll Of first villain on any stage MOI
as n having anything to do with
originating the fire. but rather max
Ing IN abominable demand to cheat
a corporation at the first opportunity,
So 1t was promptly taken up to check
out the speculation and arrange 8
settlement. The claimant was con.
stantly going into a passion and get,
ting abusive, but his attorney held
him down to his noble measures, and
within a day q conclusion was reach
ed making the loss about 40 per cent
Of the demand.
The assured was at times tearing
mad and especially so at this finale
His attorney did all in his power tc
insist upon the propriety of the re
suit. We went over the items in
question to prove their correctness
and everything, as. | supposed, was
ready for settlement when the at.
|torney would do nothing until every.
thing was submitted to Mr.. Lincoln.
This I strongly objected to, as it wal
simply q question of detail that Mr.
Lincoln said he knew nothing about
and If it was to be closed. then wal
the opportunity, for a reference tc
Mr.. Lincoln undoubtedly meant liti.
cation and. after expressing my dis.
gust with these letters of reference
n intimated an intention to obtain
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