The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-02-10
By FREDERICK TREVOR HILL

your resolution. I'm most peace
fully inclined, and l don't believe
I'll ever have a case for you or any
body else.'
yes, you will"
IL will? You seem very conf
dent. When do you expect to be
retained"
Next Wednesday"
ION my birthday? This is inter-
esting. People receive presents on
their birthdays. Why should !
give you case or anything else on
that day."
Because you can't give it any
sooner"
Maddox drew his notebook from
his pocket and opened it at the
! page bearing the entry:
July 10. Retained in the action
OF Harmony Prayer, an infant, VS..
| The Placenti Co. and others"
Harmony read the paragraph
with a puzzled expression and then
, looked up inquiringly.
What does this mean?" she
asked. rs this the case which
made uncle and you leave the val
ley suddenly the summer before
last?"
Yes"
May ask what my case is
about?"
81 can't tell you very much about
it tonight, except that it is a more
or less complicated affair, involv-
ing business schemes of great mag
nitude, and that it has been vigor-
ously prosecuted and desperately
defended, and that we are now on
the very eve of victory"
THAT sounds delightful, l am
sure" she answered. Il don't see
any reason for Uncle Abbott's
wrath yet?'
But you will when I tell you
want him to abandon everything
we've won in the last year and
half and allow the other side to
score a virtual victory"
why in the world should you do
that?"
Because" Maddox went on in
tently, because we cannot win
without sacrificing other peoples
happiness. Mr.. Prayer is not in
the mood just now to listen to this
reason, and that is why l am here
tonight to ask the real plaintiff to
retain me the moment she comes
into control of the action, which
will be on her 21st birthday"
But l thought you were the at
torney already"
81 am, but Mr.. Prayer is desper-
ately angry about my attitude, and
threatens to displace me, which
would bring about the very disaster
| am striving to avert"
What is the disaster?'
II cannot tell you tonight"
Harmony gazed at Maddox's Sc
rious face for a moment in aston
ishment. Then she broke into
little laugh.
You don't seriously expect me
to oppose Uncle Abbott and take
sides with you without the slight
est explanation, do you?" she ex-
claimed.
Il know my request sounds un-
reasonable replied Maddox, but
when you learn the facts | believe
you will acquit me Of presumption.
Mr.. Prayer will repent of his pres
ent stand sooner or later, but his
change of heart and mind may
come too late. That Is why APP
peal to YOU"
What do you want me to do?"
Simply to promise me that you
will not consent to the appointment
of any other attorney in the Pla-
cento action until all the facts can
be laid before YOU"
And until them
Il ask you to trust me-"
And distrust Uncle Abbott? You
must be joking"
81 was never more serious in my
life"
Then please get playful again,
monsieur. Seriousness doesn't suit
YOU"
Harmony's light tone grated on
Maddox's nerves and he relapsed
into a solemn silence. He did not
dare to leave the subject, and yet
he could not explain the situation
to this girl. That was impossible.
| even to save Mrs. Evans the pain
of the disclosure. Harmony was
treating this matter as Joke.
| Could she not see how vitality i'm
portant it was to him? He delight
ed in her joyous, gay comradeship,
but was she, after all. one Of those
girls who could do nothing but
play?
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