The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-12-03
CHAPTER XIII.
A DISTINGUISHED CALLER.

It was shortly after I reached the Of
hce, next morning, that the office boy
came I'm and handed me a card with an
awed and reverent air SO at variance
with his usual demeanor that glanced
at the square, OF pasteboard in some as
constituent. Then. I confess, an awed
and reverent feeling crept over me,
also, for the card bore the name OF
Serene Hornblower.
That name is quite unknown outside
the legal profession OF the three great
cities of the east, New York Boston
and Philadelphia: for Serene Horn
blower has never held public office,
has never made q public speech, has
never responded to a toast, has never
served on public committee, has new
er, so far as I know, conducted a case
In court or addressed q jury-has never,
In word. figured in the newspapers IL.
any way; and yet his income would
make that OF any other lawyer in the
country look like 80 cents.
For Serene Hornblower is the
confidential attorney OF most Of
our best families" He has
held that position for years, and 1t is
said that no case placed unreservedly
in his hands ever resulted in q public
scandal. He accepts clients with great
care: he has steadfastly refused the
business OF Pittsburgh millionaires, re-
munerative as It was certain to be;
but he seems to take a sort Of personal
pride In keeping intact the regulations
Of the old families. even when their
scions embark in the most outrageous
escapades. IL you are descended from
the Pilgrims or the PATRONS, Mr.
Hornblower will ask no further recon-
mendation.
His reputation for tact and delicacy
y tremendous; and yet those who have
found themselves opposed to him have
never been long In realizing that there
was most redoubtable mailed fist
under the velvet glove. Altogether a
remarkable man, whose memoirs would
make absorbing reading, could he be
persuaded to write them-which Is
quite beyond the bonds Of possibility.
{ had never met him either profession
ally or personally, and It was with
some eagerness that told the Office
boy to show him in at once.
Serene Hornblower did not look the
part. His reputation led one to expect
q sort OF cross between Urfah Hep
and Sherlock Holmes. but there was
nothing secretive or insinuating about
hearty man of middle age, rather
heavy-set, fresh-faced and clean
shaver. and with very bright
blue eyes-evidently man with
good digestion and comfortable
conscience. Had / met him on Broad
ripe and finished comedian. There was
about him an air which somehow re-
minded me Of joseph Jefferson-per-
haps II was his bright blue eyes. It
may have been this very appearance
OF blur sincerity and honest down.
rightness which accounted for his sue
cess. ..
We shook hands, and he sat down
and plunged at once. without an in
stant's hesitation, into the business
which had brought him. Looking back
at II, understanding as I do now the
delicate nature of that business, adj
mire more and more that blum readi-
ness; though the more I think Of Il,
the more / am convinced that he had
thought out definitely beforehand pre-
cisely what he was going to say. The |
man who can carry through a care
fully premeditated scene with an air
OF complete unpremeditation has an
immense advantage. t-r
"Mr. Lester" he began, "I under
stand that you are the administrator |
OF the estate of the late Philip Van
sour firm Is" I corrected.
"But you. personally, have been at
tending to his business?"
.'Yes" |
"He was a collector Of old furniture,
believer"
Eyes" |
And on his last trip to Europe, from |
which he returned only a few days ago
he purchased of Armand g. Son of Paris |
q Boule cabinet?' |
could not repress start Of aston