The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-12-12
MATTER OF ADVICE
Young Lawyer Secures an Inter.
eSting Case in an Unusual
Manner.
BY JOANNA SINGLE.

practice would not begin to pick up q
bit. The season was dull, and he had
so little work that he would hardly
have recognized real case If he had
met 1t on the street. The young man
tousled his smooth hair with an impa
tient hand. and decided that he would
like to be counsel in a really interest
ing case-something that would make
him sit up and take notice mentally
Unusually enough. his father and his
grandfather had made the money
question of secondary interest. What
he wanted was to get on in his pro
fession.
From the lake came girl-voices in
laughter-voices from which he had
fed Knowing his weakness and his
determination not to be caught until
he had something really his own to
offer her," he often fed-in fact, he
was socially an unstable quantity
though for his very elusiveness great
ly in demand. The latest was Mrs
Whartons note asking him to meet
her cousin Nancy from down south"
at dinner Therefore, to make good
his non-acceptance, he was out of
town few days at this country re
sort.
Suddenly through the languid noises
of the woods came a brisk, steady
little patter, louder and clearer, and
great swapping of twigs. He sat up
and there flashed toward him a girl
10 RI h ci In hnr
colored frock gathered up about her
She rushed almost upon him, breath.
less anxiety In her face, and crushed
herself carefully behind his big tree
before she saw him as he rose and
stood at attention.
''Oh, hushi" she whispered. putting
out hand and drawing him toward
her. do please lie fiat or something
so we won't be seem"
There was real distress in her voice
and he obeyed promptly The look of
her would have made slave of any.
thing masculine. She was breathing
hard, and he saw that she had lost
one small pump and stood on the
other foot to spare her pink silk
stocking and a tender sole. She chung
to the tree In something like terror.
"Ill-look after you," he yentured
in low tone, lifting his head a bit
to look at her She made a frantic
little gesture which aattened him out
again
"Oh-husn!" she breathed again
He is coming She drew herself
together In a sort of little bunch, her
eyes wide and blue. bluer than eyes
have any business to be to go with
black hair Indeed Elwood heard
tremendous cracking. and in a mo
ment shout. a clear call
'Whoo-ee-ee!" And then, Where
are you? Whoo-ee-ee!" With his
khaki clothes, tannish fair hair, and
redundancy, Elwood was practically
invisible at distance, so he turned
his head bit and from his knoll saw
in the path below square-set, dark
eyed determined looking man strid
ing along. and calling at every third
stride, Where are you, Annie?"
The girl was motionless, save that
she poked out the pink-stockinged
foot and gave Elwood's arm a furtive
poke, Then she gave herself a little
trembling shake
"lf hed-only-pass u.s." she whis.
pered Her eagerness spread to tine
young fellow on watch ut her feet
He'd better'' he muttered In
tone between threat and petition
And-he passed but not without
cursory glance in their direction
which only the protecting tree trunk
kept from seeing beEsrI In a mo
ment he was crashh '-@p' ON in another
direction. his call becoming fainter.
ElWood rose cautiously. and the girl
sank to he ground her feet cooled
under her skirt She spoke as she
might have to a brother. and Elwood
decided that ne would have preferred
her to be less friendly He hoped he
did not look too safe" though, OF
course. he wished her to have conf.
dence In him.
He might-come back. she warned
anXiously-"aTd you're so tall DO SIT
down"
IF he does, should hardly permit
him to eat you alive unless YOU
wished it" he snapped
"Eyerybody's cross" she sighed
But nol,ody's as cross now as Cousin
Mary will be when the-but there,
need a guardian, think-or a law
yer. It's one OF those ridiculous viii
things" she explained without en-
tightening him, where oms4bOd,
dies and leaves YOU money If you mar
ry somebody you Just won't marry
He can have auntic's money! | would
rather work for LIVING -than-" she
flushed brilliantly Works self-re
apecting. suppose" she said forlorn
~, looking down a two beringed little
hands which had obviously not even
speaking acquaintance with workaday
matters,
I'm lawyer, if you need one"
commented Elwood bit drily "Oh.
could have him arrested for disturb.
ing the peace, if you like"
She caught the humor in his eyes
and laughed outright, then clapped
ter hand over her mouth and list
eued
He might come back couldn't
stand being--asked again." Then she
looked entrancingly at the young man.
You don't suppose you could--fnd