The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-08
The Court of Last Resort
BY LAWRENCE r BERLISER.
Copyright 1910. by Associated Literary

When Webster Smith placed his sign outside the
door OF the cottage he had chosen for office and
living room he gave sigh of relief The first step
IN his career had been taken.
Smith was a lawyer. An indugent parent a lead
ing member or the bar OF nearby city, respon-
sble for Smiths residence in the suburban village.
What the deuce will they want of lawyer out
there dad?' he had asked his father
never mind Webb had been his reply. I'VE are
oVerrun with budding lights and diploma bred attor
neys here. You get where no one ever heard of
a LAWYER named Smith. and let's what's in you"
So the newly admitted member of the bar had
come to the little place satisfy his father
than a.. 70 practice the arts Of Blackstone,
law before There Squire Brown. kindly old
MAGISTRATE, who dispensed justice
much per head No thought of ever questioning Is
simple country folk
The advent Of Webster Smith. attorney at law. as
the sign read was duly noted in the weekly "Tele-
graph commented around the cracker barrel
DcacoE Jones grocery and then forgotten.
Time went on as 1t has habit OF doing and the
attorney still waited his client.
Repeatedly. he had travelled to town TO inform his
father that the simple life @earisome for him
Webster had become acquainted what cookbook
ing young man. a stranger in small town. could
There Sadie Brown. the sauire,s only daughter
a, miss of long standing who always kept watch
out Tor strangers, in hopes of annexfng husband
despite her advancing years
:, There's Perkins was another kindly soul who took
u upon herself to look out for the welfare of
gers. Her pity a purpose. Matrimony
was the goal she would reach.
me attorney With the ordinary treated all the
damsels with poteness, steadily any invi-
tations and spent most OF his time reading
or the higher courts.
Then Betty Sloan town. She was visiting
the Turner's. up on the pike road Ralrville
became interesting to the barrs,er and he pondcred
on a way To get acquainted
Betty was typical girl. When Smith
flrst saw her she was dressed IN. fluffy pink gown
This at once scored for Miss Betty, for Webster
smith had decided liking for pink 1t had been his
iaVofite color at college, and some had far
as To call him Pinkey.
1t a hot duty August morning Seeking coo,
nook the young lawyer had himself ina ham,
mock on the porch of his office, in one hand
and a magazine in the other.
a ed into estip
Tor he was aroused from his sumber by knock
was saving Il beg pardon is this Mr. SMITH"
80 smith hastily ieaped from the hammock and bowed
low to the vision In pink before him. and whom he
at once recognized as Betty Sloan
Webster Smith Your sersiee.s he exclaimed
Won't you step into the ofaee?"
! would much prefer to sit on, here where 1t Is
cool and shady. Mr. Smith" she replied. You see
Her words brough, him back earth, she had
come to consult him legal business. His first easel
smith could not bring his senses together TO figure
out what kind OF she could nave Tor him.
He brought out his large office chair
A client confde In her lawyer | have been
told commenced Betty with an arch glance at the
attorney before her, so first Of all confess
sion TO make
Miss slean is it necessary interrupted the
The young woman waved her hand for him to
stop, and said slowly That's just H. every here
calls sr me Miss sloan when they should say Mrs
dreams had slipped away In that explanation. Betty
was married woman. Time had he
thought OF her, pink slip Of girl. and now she
told him she was-married.
1
with the Turner's for some tme; IN raet long enough
to establish residence with them for express
word she lowered her to a Whisper and looked
young Smith straight in the eyes.
What she saw seemed to please Betty Sloan greatly,
for She would have been accused OF laughing il
Smiths eyes had their usual srewdness. which
lacking at this moment.
Yes, Mr. Smith want divorce. have toll
Grated his abuse and cruelty as long human
durance can and am tired OF it,. My folks and his
relatives have interposed but they have failed There
fore have come to the court Of last resort, YOU,
Webster Smith coming himself II was NOT
so bad as II might have been Even though she
married he might be able TO secure divorce and
Such evil thoughts could not dwell in the mind
of an honest person and the lawyer put them away
He would treat the he had planned. Per-
sonaltses must not count
the case residence of her husband. his fun name
and everything necessary
AS Betty leaned over her flushed face near his
own, Smith felt great pity for her and vowed
that he would her from such brute as John
Sloan.
lie learned that she had married Sloan her
father financial difficulty She had not
understood 1t herself, but her parents appeal could
not be refused, and thus she had become partner
In an unhappy marriage.
Smith promised to prepare the papers. He required
more information and this compelled frequent calls
i the big house the hill
He drove the young woman about his big racing
car As he learned to love her he tried to sthe the
feeling
No trace Of the husband could be obtained. The
law required advertising. Smith shrunk this
He dreaded to post her In the papers.
How to get around this was more than he could
once more.
Turner informed him that Betty was not well and
was preparing to return to the city.
Stunned with the information he insisted seeing
her.
ABOUT TINS cnangef Rave you heard from sloan.
No Mr. Smith have not heard from Mr. Sloan.
said You see there is sloa.l and never vas.
What" shouted the astounded lawyer
What a relief those words meant to him!
You see? Mr. smith," she said between sobs, Il
had not been here long before | heard every
kyno ~ tnnn llnkux xpn1, Nod.