Connecticut western news., 1909-01-21
An Able Advocate

G'~~~<N~~>~~1~ Copyright 1908. by American Press Asso.
 ciation.l
 This Is the true story of how Pro lessor Driesback got his wife.
 Professor Herman Driesback, bota GiSt, seeking specimens In Arizona, rode up to q tavern, hitched his horse to d post, went into the house and called for something to eat. To say that the professor was engrossed in his profession to the exclusion of all else is to convey but a faint idea of his enthrallment.
 But the moment had come when an- other kind of fora crossed Professor Driesback's path to turn his mind tenn pCrarily in d new channel. While he was sitting at table eating his dinner and thinking on the latest varieties of plants he had picked up a girl in a short skirt, cowhide boots, buckskin leggings and sombrero entered tn, room and, depositing q rife in a COT ner, sat down at the table opposite the man of science.
 'Mornin', stranger" she said. Don't know who you are, but I'm Kate Me ClCnnon, ranchman's daughter. Whc are you?
 Professor Herman Driesback of - university. at your service"
 Now, the professor was thirty-twc years of age and, although he wore spectacles, had pair of mild t'uc eyes behind them. with which he look ed at Kate McClennon. If Kate was q revelation to tie prufcg8tr the ErU lessor was a revelation to Kate. whose gentlemen admirers had thus far beer made up of cowboys, gamblers and such like rude material. The aequaint, ance develops more rapidly than crO- cuses in springtime. After the meal both arose. The girl took her rifle, and they went out to where the professor had hitched his horse. Learning that the girl was going his way, he offercl her seat in his rattletrap buggy. which she accepted, and they took their departure in company.
 They had not gone a mile when there was a chatter of horses hoofs behind, shot over their heads. and before the young woman could get her rifle in position for defense a mau rode up, crying:
 Halt, you horse thief"
 Now, that the professor was a horse thief was proved by his own state ment When asked the color of his horse he frankly avowed that he was black, while the hue of the nag he was driving was white.
 It didn't take the people whereabouts long to collect a jury of twelve good and true men to try tue professor. There were no lawyers in those parts, but Professor Driesbach was assigned counsel in the person of a cowpuncher who had spent three months ip town lawyers office. The professor was permitted to make his statement. He said he had driven up to the tavern, Litched his horse, gone out, got into his buggy and driven away. But since meanwhile his horse had changed from black to white his story did not impress people who had heard much
  1 CTS. His counsel was stumbling along ! with a cock and q bull story (so it was | considered) of a real horse thief hay l ing taken the prisoners good black l horse and substituted a poor white 1 one when Kate McClcnnon took a ] hand in the proceedings.
 What do you roosters mean any way? know this here gentleman and 1 have known him since he was a kid. ] Him and me used to play together fl his mothers yard back in Missouri" | Professor Driesbach opened his eyes.
 When he was six years old" con tinued his advocate, he had a fit. After that he kept having fits. Then he began to steal things. Mother couldn't keep anything in the cubbard but he'd come in and steal it. And l couldn't save any pennies because he'd l git 'em in spite of all 1 could do to hide 'em. Do you s'pose told on him ! and got him licked? Not much. What'd I want to git a kid that had l fits and scarlet fever and s.inal menin- gitis into trouble for?' q
 The professor held his breath ill 1 amazement.
 And how could any one handicap red this wcy as boy expect to make q man of himself? Of course he's q horse thief, and any one of you who'd had chicken pox and measles and humps and fits when you was a boy would make horse thief yourselves when you grew up. This here prisoner throws himself on the mercy of the court"
 Before the plea was half finished the luinds of the jurymen were made up. and Professor Driesback was acquit. ted without their leaving the boards on which they sat.
 After the verdict the court, the ac- quilted man, his attorneys and the spectators went outside and were about to dispcrse when a couple of l mounted men were seen driving a mau on black horse before them n; the points of their rcvolvers. The: came u1 and stepped before the crowd 1 "EOCd c-r1 giCuS" ." exclaimed tho prO.