The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-15
The EUening Story
The LOiterer.
(By lola Forrester.)

"Oh, L love you of course" Edith
flashed back holly. DO you suppose
for one minute that I'd ever have
waited for you to make good if L had
MT? They talk and talk about feAth
making one strong. Billie Ronalds.
if faith could have made you any
thing at ALL you'd have been a 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 own family, but it was new COM
ing from Edith. They had been tacit-
ly engaged ever since either could re-
member. In fact, Billies mother low
ed relate how she had proposed for
mally for Edith's hand for her three
year-old son as soon as she had re-
ceiVed the announcement card of her
birth. Their mothers had been closest
friends for years, and their gardens
in Linwood Terrace adjoined.
All through his college career Edith
had worn his frat" pins and attended
all football events as his special guest
of honor. He had taken his degree,
and had opened up his law office in
the new building on City Hall park.
but right there things had stopped Tor
Bill. There was strange dearth of
clients. Linwood was a new and thriv-
ing town in New Jersey, filled with
philosophical citizens and no GRIM
finals. Its law cases were confined to
divorce suits and small civil suits of
an immaterial nature. There was no
chance for Bill. to shine in what he
hoped would be his line-criminal law
He had had a vivid picture of him
self delivering his final address to the
jury in many a famous case, saving
some poor devils life for him against
all the arrayed panoply of the law
But Linwood remained a peaceful
law-abiding community, and there
was no amphitheater of eloquence for
any rising young lawyer to make his
everlasting name in.
I cannot invent cases, Edith" he
did manage to say.
Il suppose not, but you could
branch out, couldn't you? Do you have
TO wait for somebody to commit MUIR
der or highway robbery. Why on
cases"
For instance" Bill tried to appear
distant and calm.
I'm tell you one. right now that I
would love if L were lawyer. And
I'd love you, too. if you could win it.
l think I'd even marry you if you won
it. Little Kitty Casey's claim against
the street car company! She's just out
of the hospital 1 coaxed mother to
pay for her expenses there, or old Cas-
street car people for two hundred cash
and all expenses paid. And she's lame
for life. not so she will need crutches,
but just limpy. Why don't you take
up her case?"
Pretty, wouldn't it be. with my
father the biggest stakeholder in the
/ company" said Bill moodily. "You
certainly can pick winners, Edith.
! After dad has been backing me for
years"
Then settle it for her out of court.
! But GO after it. She deserves at least
five thousand, Billie"
Billie walked back to his office.
bordering on the ways of woman. If
anybody had acted squarely to him
it was his father. He had roasted
him, to be sure, because he didn't
make good, but still he had stood back
/ Of him and helped him pay his bills.
/ The Casey girl had been playing in
the street and had darted in front of
a car coming down Black Hill. 1t
was quite as much her fault as the.
motorman's. Yet he knew, too, that
the men were strictly ordered to slow
down on that grade, with the school
at the foot of the hill, and that there
/ had been an agitation, crushed firmly
in the city council, for the company
to provide a special Waterman at the
crossing above the school. He turned
off at the corner and made for his
fathers offices.
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 a 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 we attend to these cases
in our own way, and you're after Grim
inal practice"
I'm going after this for practice, -
Bill sail Grimly. I'm tired sitting
around"
! The following day, Bill filed his no
tice of suit. There followed q reque est
for bill of particulars, and Bill got
I'D a beauty, with the assistance of a
college pal, a chap who had hung up
his doctors sign about the same time
I with Bits. Bits family treated him
with grieved silence, but Edith's smile
when they met compensated for any
thing else.
.'Ynn've stoDnsd lnitering- haven't