The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1915-01-23
ACCOMPLICE"
By FREDERICK TREVOR HILL


Nv nN1l A9[[A tN1
just finishing a story as entered and
Bayne shifted to one side of his chair
and silently invited me TO share II with
him. I did not fancy this picnic
familiarity. however, and. answering
his suggestion with a shake OF my
head. remained standing near h door
way.
THAT was the last recommendation
| ever gave to any man.. the speaker
was saying. "and | wouldn't give one
today TO my own brother.
Il don't blame YOU" responded an
understood man seated on the writing
table. II bad n case once. and
do you remember Lincoln's cele-
brated letter Of recommendation: In
terrupted No. 3 of the jury.
mo. Let's have it, responded the
first speaker.
.WeIl.- continued my associate.
somebody wrote Lincoln asking him
about n fellow in Illinois who a CIV
en- the presidents name as a reference
In n matter of business credit. Lincoln
answered something like this: i nave
your letter as to Mr.. Blanks financial
responsibility. In reply l beg to say
he has a wife and child which should
he worth TO any man at least sJDO.ooc.
Besides these he has TO my certain
knowledge i'm his Office a deal table
worth about 81 80 and two cane bottom
ed chairs worth as much more. Also
in the corner of his Office there is a
rathole which will bear looking into.
Your truly, A. Lincoln"
/ noticed that the little man on the
writing table did not join in the laugh
which greeted this story, but l saw
his lips move. as though he were at
tempting to make himself heard. His
small face betrayed conceit and self
importance i'm every line. despite its
utter insignificance, to which his POM
padour hair and small red side whis-
kers gave the finishing touch.
That's very good" he began as the
laughter ceased. Most of the stories
about Lincoln are entirely a~pocryphal,
but that mes so old suppose he's en-
titled to it whether it's true Or not.
However, such things do happen. 1
had a case myself once
Speaking of recommendations"-in-
terposed a fat. good natured looking at
torney seated next to Bayne.
(which is precisely what I was
speaking Of" insisted the little man.
"Some years ago l had Il case
Speaking of recommendations TO
mercy" calmly pursued the interrupt
err, Il got my experience early in the
game, when / was filed with the milk
of human kindness and mushy accord
ingly."
The hotel clerk brought me a chair
from the dining room, and as / thanked
him / called his attention to the red
whiskered individual whose face was a
ludicrous study of wrath and disap-
pointment.
That's I-had-a-case Carson" he ex-
planned in a whisper. Nobody believes
he ever had a case. but he lives for
these occasions, and he's wild 10 get
the floor. The fellow talking now just
iOfCo " thOht I'LL On. anu lut JULIET
lawyers devil him all they can"
The little attorneys expression Of i'm
potent Indignation demonstrated that
he was being 'deviled" almost past en-
durance, but after glaring at the speak
er for a moment he pulled ont a big
black cigar, savagely bit off the end
and tried to talk to his neighbor.
well. my man appeared so dazed
and hopeless" the fat attorney was
saying, that I saw nothing for it but
to plead guilty and throw myself on
the mercy of the court. He was a
lawyer, but / thought If / could get a
lot of people to put in a good word for
him l could Offset that, and before long
l accumulated the greatest set of pre-
vious good character testimonials you
ever saw in your life. They We're 50
sweeping and cordial that | positively
wept to think of letting such a good
man go to prison, and / determined II
attempt his acquittal. But say. Did
any Of you ever try to get up a de-
Tense fund for one of those blameless
life fellows? Wen, IL you do you'll
find good words are all their friends
will give 'em. / couldn't work 80 cents
out of the whole bunch. My client was
'one of Gods noblemen'-but he was
such a clever lawyer surely he could
conduct his own case without expense
he was the salt of the earth'-but they
didn't propose to put up any dust for
him: he had "a pure and spotless past
and his home life was very beautiful
but if funds were needed for his de.
Tense he'd better go to jail. These were
the only contributions / received from
his eulogizers. Then / sounded my
man on making restitution. TRY it,
he said, and / tried it with such sue
cess that l was given a virtual assur.
ance of a sentence not exceeding three
years If he'd return what he'd stolen
Ten years was what l otherwise ex.
pected him TO get, and l told him 50
when he asked my opinion. He eonsid
cred the matter for some time and then
dashed all my hopes.