Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-06-09
HIS FIRST CLIENT.
BY August Izsenfusz.

franz Won der Heluef, d YOUNG law
yer who had only just hung out his
shingle, was sitting in his office, nerv-
ously chewing the end of his unlit
cigar.
To discover that clients were not yet
regular visitors to his sanctum one only
needed TO look at his desk, where .
very new looking volume of the "Prus-
sian Civil Code" was resting side by
side with a costly ivory fan, which he
had broken the night before at a wine
supper with a circus rider, and on top
of an equally new and unused volume
OF the Penal Code" were two scented
letters on dainty paper, evidently from
a woman of refinement. In the very
center of the desk was a photo of a
beautiful but rather SenSuouS looking
woman of typical southern features.
His rather pleasant face was very
serious just now. Everything had hap
pened SO entirely different from what
he had expected. Tomorrow the court
session was to open, and not one client
had appeared to ask for his services in
even the most insignificant case, and
to think that the rich butcher and sau-
sage manufacturer, Mr.. Wermut, had
had the impudence TO tell him that he
did not want to hear of any engage
ment between him, Franz o der Hell
den, a blue blooded but poor lawyer,
and his own charming but plebeian
daughter, Ottilie, until he had pleaded
at least one case In court.
To drown his sorrow the young attor-
ney had thrown himself into a mael-
strom of dissipation. He was In con-
slant attendance on the beautiful circus
rider, who eemed to favor him far
more than any of the many members
Of the ~jeunesse doree who sighed for
her love, and he had run hopelessly in
deb for flowers n jewelry which she
could not live without.
Suddenly there was a knock on the
door. His old bookkeeper, who sat in
the outside office pretending to keep
imaginary accounts and files, appeared
and announced Mr.. Wermuth, who
stood behind him with a bundle of legal
papers in his fat hand.
He deposited his mighty person in an
armchair, looked at the rather embar-
raised attorney and said with a smile:
Il suppose you are surprised to see
me here, Mr.. Won der Helden, to give a
case into your hands, and you may be
quite sure that if it was not because
Ottilie had nearly tortured the life out
of me | should never lave come. But
never mind. l have decided to risk it
and give you a air trial. Now, If you
win this case for me we shall be
friends, and L may be able to bring you
more business: but If vou lose will
send my daughter to a Swiss boarding
school and take care that you see
neither her nor me any more. | sup
pose you need money. and o may
ask your w price, and / shall give
my cashier an order to advance o
any mount you may need"
Won der Helden's first impulse was to
order his impudent prospective father
in-law 10 leave his office at once, but
he controlled himself and began to look
through the papers which the sausage
manufacturer handed him. 1t was a
case concerning a disputed boundary
line. but 1t was evident that grave mis-
takes had been made by the attorney
who had handled the business before
him, and for this reason Mr.. Wermut
a lost the case in the lower court.
While he was busy studying the pa
pers h young man nearly collapsed
when he saw how the butchers eyes
We're riveted on the photograph of the
beautiful circus rider, though strange
to say he had tact enough not to say
anything.
Three weeks later the case came up
in the first part of the civil court. Franz,
o der Holden made a we'll prepared
speech which made a great impression
on his wealthy client, and was jubilant
when the judge ordered a special local
session on the disputed property. which
was part of the large garden surround
ing Mr. Wermut's residence.
The month of May had come, with
beautiful weather, and everybody
hailed with joy the advent of spring
Only Ottille Wermut. a beautiful girl
of II, with golden hair and dark blu
eyes, would see nothing of all this, and
xyn1lr91 rDYrnI n1 &c In.aI 800 DO
the day her father had come home and
told of the fan and photo on her lovers,
desk. And now that faithless person.
had the a~udacity to walk up and down
below her veranda as if nothing at all
had happened, and even smile at her.
A few minutes later the members of
the court arrived, and after half an
hours debate she was surprised to see
her father and her faithless lover as
cend the steps, arm in arm.
should she do? She would
not meet him at any cost; but where
could she go2 Looking around she
saw a door leading into a closet where
garden tools were kept, and hurried in
there. The door closed behind her and
she found herself In a small, dark
place, unable to get out, as the door
could only be opened from the out
side. She heard her father enter the
house and, though she was not a little
afraid, no earthly power could make
her call the young lawyer to her as
sistance. Suddenly she heard a noise
among the tools on the floor, and felt
herself turn pale with horror. There
was no doubt there were mice in the
place, n she had a deadly terror of
mice. Her eyes, which had now be-
come used 10 the darkness, could even
see them on the floor close to her face.
She gave a cry, but no one heard her,
though she could plainly hear Franz
walk up and down outside.
Mr.. Won der Helden!" she cried.
No answer And the mice were still
there; she could hear them move.
With the strength of despair she tried
to force the door, but II did not bulge.
Now h could hear steps right out
side. Her pride was gone, and she
cried, with tears:
"oh. Franz! Franz. Help me. open
the door, or 1 shall diet"
The door was torn open and Franz
o der Helden held her ~fainting form
in his arms, just as Mr.. Wermut ap-
peared OF the scene with a bottle of
old Burgundy and glasses.