The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1909-05-29
ROBERT REDMOND's
CAREER.

Having thrashed several of the
likeliest looking boys standing in the
line outside of Cathcart's door, it nat
urally happened that this rising
young attorney, perceiving one bright
alert face in the handful of boys, who
were merely looking for jobs, decided
to employ Master Robert Redmond.
II amt looking for much salary"
explained Robert when the fact was
explained to him that dollar a week
would be paid at the start. II want
to make a career for myself and
Ill be worth more to you soon"
This idea of career pleased Cath
cart. He, too, was still looking for
a career. He had law Office, it was
true, and his sheepskin hung upon
the wall, but the clients were still
few and Cathcart had a boyish idea
that he and Bobby would find a ca
reer together.
AS the days passed, he began to
take a live interest in Bobby. With
wits sharpened in the school of the
street, the boy had resisted the faint
OF the gutter and had acquired it's
alertness with but few of the bad
habits Of the gamin: 1t is true that
he smoked when he could afford the
price of pack of cigarettes, and his
language at times was more emphatic
than polite, but he swore only under
stress of circumstances and sought to
break himself of the trick. He had
noticed that Cathcart seldom used an
oath, and he was making Cathcart
his pattern.
Times were easy in the Cathcart
office. Cathcart did not really need a
boy, but it looked better and then he
came in very handy to take notes to
Lorna Stanley. Most of the time
when other lawyers were writing
briefs Cathcart was writing notes, not
that he did not care for briefs, but
because they did not come to him.
Some OF these days the briefs would
come and with their coming he would
marry Lorna and live happily ever
after.
' AT present the course of true love,
as Bobby put it to himself, was "as
crooked as corkscrew with the
cramps" Old Mrs. Stanley had
double objection to Cathcart. In the
first place he was poor-which might
be forgiven him-and he was a law
yer. When her husband, Gordon
Stanley, died there had been much
litigation over the estate. Mrs. Stan
ley was finally the victor. but she had
promptly crossed all legal lights from
her visiting lists and regarded the
entire profession as unhung thieves
because of the Vaccinations of
few sharpers who had urged bogus
claimants on to tedious litigation.
This was the principal rock which
Cathcart found in his path. He would
not elope with Lorna, and he could
not gain the old lady's consent. The
third alternative-that of giving
Lorna up-was equally impossible
and so the affair Jagged.
Bobby was quick to sense the stu
alton. Even had he not carried so
many notes he would have UNDER
stood, and the case troubled him. So
1t happened that he sat in the Stan
ley parlor one Sunday afternoon con-
fronting very puzzled old lady.
''The kids down at the club was
telling me that you take an interest in
boys" explained Bobby. land I've
come to see you about my career"
Il am always interested in the de-
velopment of character and the in
culcation Of the habits of industry"
That's all right" agreed Bobby
politely. wondering what that culcat-
ing thing was. Il got the habit all
right. What I'm looking for Is
chance to let it get busy"
II do not know Of a vacant position
at the present moment" said Mrs.
Stanley thoughtfully. you might
leave your name and address with
me-"
I've got the job" explained Bob
by patiently. ''but you're tagging the
express and spelling my chance. 1
want = career and you can't have
career when the boss turns down good
jobs because he loves a girl 50 much
he can't think about law"
II fail to see where that concerns
me-" said Mrs. Stanley stifly. The
word law had been impolitic.
s.You had better run along little boy.
and not waste my time. "