The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1916-04-06
THE lolTERER
BY lola F%oRREsTER.

flashed back hotly. "Dp you suppose
for one minute that I'd ever Have
waited for you to mako good & ]
hadn't. Then talk and talk about filth
making one strong. Billie Ronalds. u
faith could have made you anything
at all, you'd have been . master OF
men now. Just look at the way we've
all believed In you"
Billie stood, silent and erect, taking
his medicine as he always did. He
had been used to It from all branches
Of his W family, but It wal new
coming from Edith. They had been
tacitly engaged ever since either could
remember.
All through his college career Edith
had worn his frat" pins and attended
all football events as his special quest
of honor. He had taken his degree.
and had opened up bis law once IN
the new building ON City Hall park,
but right there things had stopped foe
Bill. There was q arrange dearth Of
clients.
Il cannot invent cases, Edith" h
did manage to say.
I'll tell you one right now, that ]
would love If l were q lawyer. And
I'd love you. too, II you could win Il.
I think I'd even marry you II you won
1t. Little Kitty Casey's claim sgetnst
the street a company! she's juyt out
of the hospital"
Pretty, wouldn't It be. with my
father the biggest stockholder Id the
company" said Bill. modify. you
certainly can pick winners, Edith.
After dad has been backing me tos
years."
"Then settle 1t for her out Of court.
But go after 1t. She deserves 1t least
five thousand, Billie"
Billie walked back to his once.
bordering on the ways OF woman. II
anybody had acted squarely to him
1t was his father. He turned OF at
the corner and made for His fathers
offices.
The old man was cheerful and
amused.
You're all right. BILL" he said. but
I'd prefer to have you keep out of It
Casey's agreed to accept two hundred
cash."
He'll drink it up in q month" an,
swered Bill thoughtfully. where
does the girl come in. It's her foot
that got run over, not Casey's, dad"
Don't get sentimental. boy" Mr.
Ronalds patted him kindly on his
shoulder. I'VE attend to these cases
In our own way. and you're after Grim,
inal practice"
I'm going after this for practice"
Bill said grimH. I'm tired sitting
around"
The following day. Bill fled his no
tice of suit. There followed AJreQuest
for a bill Of particulars. and Bill got
up a beauty. with the assistance Of
q college pal. q chap who had hung
up his Doctors Sign about the same
time with Bills. BAl's family treated
him with grieved silence. but Edith's
smile when they net compensated FOL
anything else.
you've stopped lettering. haven't
you, Bill, dear?" she said. II hops
you win"
Don't you forget your promise II ]
do" answered Bill firmly.
The company offered to settle fol
FIVE hundred, and Bill smiled. The &C.
acknowledgement Of liability pleased
him, but he wanted more. Casey him
self came around and ordered him to
get off the case, but Bill had had the
papers made out for Kitty with Edith
appointed as court guardian. and II
cut the old man out.
The day of the trial, the last one to
step into the crowded courtroom Wal
old man Ronalds. He sat in q back ssst
and listened to his boy open tho case.
Kitty, nine years old, thin and freck'
led, sat beside her mother andr Edith.
When she started amid dead silence
for the witness chair, dragging hes
foot as she walked. Ronalds put his
hand over his eyes. But he took II
down again. Bits voice rang out IL
the courtroom. and the compauy's
lawyer, a stolid old -ex.judge. came
back slowly. But Just the pictnrs Of
Kitty was enough, and everybody Ia
the town knew the case as well q
the lawyers. Bill slammed in heavily
on the Waterman demanded by the
citizens on the school crossings. and
his best witness was the motor mar on
the other side. Under BNEs cross u.
animation, conducted almost gently. no
lost his head and called out~that It
wasn't his fault anyhow. He. aaid there
wasn't a man in tho a : that didn't
dread those down grades, and their
orders were to keep to schedule, time.
bill WINS" said the old, man. under
his breath, and his eyes sperkled. too.
as he watched the boy stand there.
hammering down the arguments of old
Judge Wallace.
The verdict was three tAouaand dol.
lars. Some blame attached to Kitty
for lack of care In playing on the
streets. they held, but three thousand
was a fair and moderate amount.
Edith had n arm around Kitty's
a