The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1911-01-27
A Lawyer and
A Sinpleton
BY M. QUAD
Copyright. 1910, Wy Associated Lit
erary Press.
BY M. QUAD

been dead for many years. Old John
was not exactly a miser, but he was
known as money saver. From the
age Of ten, when he met with an acct
dent Peter was the simplet0n Of the
village and butt Of ridicule, though
he had been known as bright child
for the first few years. The doctors
said there was something pressing on
the brain and that an operation would
fix things all right. but the father
baked at the cost, and so Peter re-
manned simpleton 1t was only
when the old man came to die that
he regretted his stinginess and neglect
and said to the lawyer who drew the
will:
Everything goes % Peter. He's
simple minded, but he will get along
I want you to advise him and be a
sort Of father. People think I've got
q lot Of money, but that's all non
sense. You can tell Peter, however,
that there's something hidden away in
the house that he'll come across some
day and appreciate"
Lawyers are entirely human outside
Of q courtroom. That hidden treasure
had the same effect on Attorney Hen
derson as 1t would have had on
plumber or blacksmith. Just where in
the house was 1t concealeda Was II
In gold or greenbacks? Was 1t $10.-
600 or double the sunni And wasn't
1t a shame that 1t should 60 to a sim
pleton. whose wants were already gu;
pled2
The more TIE lawyer argued and rea-'
soned with himself the more reason
able 1t lookei that he should come into
possession Il that treasure He fel
that he could even convince 4 judgf
and jury Of the fact Within three
months he was scheming. He called
at the house now and then to see Peter
The young man seldom left the prem
ises. He made garden. chored about
the place and went to bed with the
hens. 1t was easy to make an excuse
to get him out of the house for an hour
or two. Then the lawyer instituted a
search. He made three of them and
found nOthing-not that the treasure
wasn't there. but because there are
scores, and scores. of hiding places IN
any house. These vain searches con-
vinced Mr.. Henderson that he should
come into legal possession of the house.
30 that he might pull 1t to pieces If
necessary.
In. selling 1t there would be work
provided for the simpleton. The law
yer would give him certain sum of
money and gravel pit to boot. The
money would draw interest and every
load of gravel dug out would bring
Peter Is cents. Killing two birds with
one stone. you see. Attorney Hender
son even got the, credit of being
and humanitarian.
OF course the simpleton was clay In
The hands of the potter. He went to
live with family at so much per year,
md he went to work In the gravel pit,
lhe lawyer didn't rush things in max
rig other searches. He waited for
weeks Then at odd times he system.
atiZed his work.
Twas queer thing that happened
after awhile Attorney Henderson resd
a treasure story in magazine 1t had
many points similar to his. The heirs
tore an old house down piece By piece
In search of miser's loot and then
found 1t in the old clock on the man
tel. The idea took root. None of the
old furniture had been removed. The /
searcher went at 1t to Inspect and
overhaul, 1t took three more searches
to bring success. Under the ragged
cover Of an old lounge on which Peter
had sat and slept for years was found
4 tintype Of the young mans mother.
It was in q cardboard box, and In the
of the father were few
lines explaining the identity Of the pic
ture and adding that 1t was a treas
ure to be valued more than money.
After reading the lines the lawyer
could not doubt that the find was what
the old man referred to when on his
dying bed.
There was no one present to listen
to Attorney Henderson's plea" when
be decided that he had been sold and
tkat he alone was responsible for the
selling. It was doubtless strong and
able effort. He had paid full value for
property he did not want, and the only
consolation he had was in feeling that
the gravel pit was more or less of
fraud. Simpleton Pete had plugged
away at getting out gravel, but had
met with loan and sand instead. He
was about toiabandon his labors when
the irony of fate showed Its hand. The
whole village was jumped out Of its
boots one afternoon when he rushed
along the main street swinging his
hat and shouting. AS he rushed back
again he was followed by a crowd. He
led 1t to the gravel pit and to a small
stout box he had unearthed. When
the box was broken open 1t was found
10 contain $4,000 In English sover
eigns, buried during the Revolutionary
var.
The crowd first cursed Peter for his
luck. Then It cheered him and bore
him IN frfuuph-oIl huk -. 80 Al,