Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1910-11-10
APut Up Job
By SADIE oLcoTT
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.

IT understand. Wilkins" said Jones.
"that Thompson Is engaged to Miss
Watriss."
Funny, isn't It? The idea Of man
lawyer marrying a woman lawyer"
$50 1t is. How would they behave
on opposite sides of the same case%
"I'd like to try them. BY the bye,
Thompson has my case against your
company. Suppose you put your case
in the hands of Miss Watriss."
"I'll do it."
When Mr.. Thompson came into court
and saw his fancee lined against him
he knit his brows. But she gave him
sweet smile, as much as to say,
"Isn't 1t nice for you and me to try
case on opposite Sides?
Thompson recovered himself. return.
ed the smile and declared that 1t would
be delightful. AS the attorney for the
plaintiff he opened the case.
Now, Mr.. Thompson was an able at
torney. In the first place, he entered
heart and soul into every case he con.
Quoted and had the reputation among
his professional associates Of getting
more out Of bis witnesses to injure the
opposite side and more out Of their
witnesses to help his own side than
any man at the bar. In the present
case he coaxed his witnesses, helping
them by leading questions so that they
were a tower Of strength for his case.
Miss Watriss, seeing the advantage he
was gaining. became restive. She be-
gan to object to nearly every question.
But the Judge did not sustain her OBJ
jections, and this irritated het. The
consequence was that when her own
witnesses took the stand she was In a
very bad humor.
BY this time the attorney for the
plaintiff had become absorbed In bis
case to the exclusion Of every other
consideration. The first witness called
for the defense was q mild gentleman,
who was never sure about anything.
"Do you remember" sneered the at
torney. what you ate for breakfast
this morning"
T objectg' shouted Miss watriss.
springing to her feet.
The objection was sustained.
Mr.. Thompson then showed the wit
ness a paper and asked him If he
wroteit.
ut looks like my handwriting" was
the reply, land that seems to be my
signature, but couldn't swear to It."
"How old are your
"Sixty."
"Do you consider yourself in your
second childhood"
'T objectr' again shouted Miss Wa
triss, this time with redhot cheeks.
"Your honor" said Mr.. Thompson.
with exasperating GOODNESS, perhaps
the attorney for the defendant would
like to conduct my case for me. /
would prefer to have her do so rather
than prevent my proving that her wit
ness is either incompetent from loss OF
memory or Is withholding evidence"
Mr.. Thompson by this time had Tor
gotten that he had a fancee and that
fancee was bis opposing counsel. Per:
haps force of habit got the better OF
him. Miss Watriss gave him an angry
glance, but made no reply. Mr..
Thompson either did not notice her
choler or was used to exciting the
wrath of his opponents. Indeed, this
was a fayorite method with him.
Having browbeaten a dozen wit
nesses for the defense until they were
not sure Of anything except what he
wished them to be sure of, Mr.. Thomp-
son summed up the case as one OF the
most arrant swindles against his client
that had ever been perpetrated upon
long suffering person. Miss Watriss,
who knew that his client was a rascal
who was trying to ruin her own client,
could scarcely contain herself through
anger. Mr.. Thompson's artful method
Of distorting facts, his smooth but
cutting irony, were like rubbing hie
on rheumatic member. Miss Watrtss'
condition was not improved, either, by
the loss Of her case and costs for her
much injured defendant. When they
left the courtroom Mr.. Thompson,
who had suddenly dropped the attor.
ney and returned to the condition OF
lover. ioined his fiancee and said:
"sweetheart, congratulate you on
having done splendidly"
"Don't sweetheart me"
"Why, my dear, you don't mean to
say that you have been affected In
your feelings toward me by this law.
suitT
II have been so far affected that
wish you to consider our engagement
at an endT
"Great heavens! What Is the mean'
ing Of this? We lawyers-that Is, men
LAWYERS, no matter how we have wran'
sled over q case-always leave the
courtroom friends"
I will have nothing further to DO
with a man who would treat poor
old gentleman as you did my principal
witness and. as for your references to
me. they were inhuman insults?
Shortly after that Miss Watriss re-
ceiyed O call from the two men VINO
had "put up the job" on her and her
lover.
"Mr. Thompson" said Jones, has
nv law business. I am willing 70
transfer 1t to you, and Mr.. wilkins Will
give YOU all his on one condition"
"Name it." said the lady.