Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-03-09

against John for the recovery of his
property. This having been done. the
Justice assigned John counsel. and the
case Of Hargrave versus Borlan wal
tried at once.
Hargrave told how he had lost hii
pocketbook. he had been walking the
street when he was jostled by some
men. he shouted for the police, and
the men ran. On reaching home be
discovered his loss. he supposed that
the robbers had dropped the pocket
book in their flight
Johns counsel. a lawyer named Dex.
ter, advised his client to summon as
many persons as possible who knew
him to testify to his honesty. This
was done. and quite number were
present After taking their testimony
Dexter called Hargrave to the stand.
"Why did you not mention in your
advertisement" asked the lawyer, 1.-THE
vouchers you claim were in the pock'
etbookT'
Because they were not money and
Of no value to any one but me-"
"What was the nature Of the vouch-
ersT
The witness hesitated, then claimed
that they were receipted bills for
money expended.
Before the case went to the jury
Dexter claimed that he had proved
Johns good character and that there
was neither any evidence that he had
stolen the vouchers nor any necessity
for such evidence. because If he had
been q thief he would have taken the
money and left the vouchers instead
Of taking the vouchers and leaving the
money. He also claimed that his client
had a cause Of action against Hargrave
for slander and that the evidence had
shown the plaintiff to be miser. To
this the judge added instructions that
were favorable to the defendant.
When the verdict was brought In the
foreman said that the jury had found
for the defendant Since the pocket
book contained other articles than had
been mentioned by the advertiser, 1t
could not be the one for which he had
advertised. Therefore the property be-
longed to the defendant until claim
ant for It could prove that 1t was his.
Before John and his counsel had left
kh1 In va1u 0nflncnt nj IN
John and offered. on behalf Of his
client. all the money that was In 1t
and 500 for the book. Dexter at once
became suspicious and made an exami-
nation Of the pocketbook. One side
being remarkable for It's thickness, he
inserted bis knife between 1t and the
lining and took out seven $1,000 bills
He at once called his client to him
for a private conference and showed
him the find. John was astonished,
but he had decided to return both the
money he had found and the pocket
book to Hargrave. to whom he believed
It rlghtfully belonged. He now took
the same ground with respect to the
concealed bills.
"You will do no such thing" said
the lawyer. T am acting In your in
terest, and it Is my business to protect
you In your rights. The miser tried
to beat you out Of the reward offered
and accused you Of being a thief.
Leave the matter to me and will
make an equitable settlement for you"
John finally consented to abide by
whatever his counsel did In the mat
ter, and after long conference with
Hargrave's attorney Johns lawyer an
nounced that compromise had been
effected by which one-half Of all the
contents should 60 to John and the
rest to Hargrave, this being the reward
offered in the advertisement for the
property.
"And now. young man." added Dex-
ter, IT would advise you to take the
money that has come to you and go
back to the country. You are not it.
ted to make your way in the city.
There Is plenty Of honesty here, but
there Is a lot Of sharp practice. You
would be better where you were born
and raised. If you remain here this
money will soon slip through your fin
gers"
When John asked his lawyer for his
bill for legal services he was surprised
at the modest charge Of $40.
John returned to the country with
his capital and found Mabel waiting
for him. Notwithstanding his lawyers
opinion she did not like to have him
take money that he had found. After
much conference they decided to use
It for a starter and II they succeeded
in rolling up SNOWFALL to resign It
John bought a farm. They were mar.
red and prospered. At the end OF
FIVE years they inquired for the miser
from whom 1t had been derived and.
finding that he had died, gave the
funds to charity.
It was thus that John Borlan found
bis opportunity. But he never refer
red to It with pleasure and felt relieved
when he turned 1t over to those who
he considered had better right to 1t
than himself. To this his friends as
sert that Providence designed him as
an agent to turn 1t into useful chan.
nol