The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1917-01-25
Office A,
Smith Block
The Lawyer Used 1t For
More Than Legal Business.
By LUCY POOLE

II tne general IuectiuS pace, nluA-
hams grocery, all the men weuld
shift their wads and straightsn their
hats out of Difference as he seated
himself on the best cracker barrel
by the stove and planted his feet
on the warnest spot.
But the swift, horrible accident
had silenced the jovial Croesus, and
his estate had been revealed to the
public's Mortified gaze as absolutely
worthless.
Mrs. Taylor had been prostrated
completely. Janet had struggled as
she could, but after all the funeral
expenses had been paid her little
store of banknotes had dwindled
away to pathetic few.
"Now, Burt" she explained eager
ly to her masculine friend, lawyer
and devoted lover, "it is a case Of
sheer necessity, you see. We will
only have $40 a month from the
farm, and that won't even pay
mothers doctor bills"
Janet" began the young man,
his voice husky with the emotion he
tried to suppress-"Janet, I'm in
good business now, and your father
had given me his consent, SO why
won't YOU let me help YOU in this
time of trouble? You know p
eyes, 1 know, Burt" answered
the girl gently, ''but it is impossi-
BILE. Now, my plan is this: At col
lege I took all the four prizes for
the best essays and had good sue
cess with the college weekly and
annual"
Burt could hardly hide smile.
This young slip of womanhood talk
ing of earning money for her lit
erary work! Poor child, she did
not realize that college weeklies and
city daily papers differ strikingly in
their demands.
But one simply could not argue
with Janet. Her radiant beauty
vas her strongest weapon, and Burt
left her in high spirits.
"Burt, I shall depend on you for
the addresses of al the best papers
and magazines in the city" she call
ed to him as he ssrode down the
walk. "And don't forget to read
every line I publish" came indis-
tinctly to his ears as he turned the
corner to the station.
Burton Harold was tied to his Of
fee day and night for the next three
weeks, scarcely having time to
snatch a bit to eat OF an hours rest.
Yet the dainty, dark beauty of ia
nets charming face foated tantaGz-
ingly before the dusty law books or
the tiresome documents.
He had not heard word from
her since he had mailed the ad-
dresses, and he wondered whether
he could have been mistaken and
Janet's work was actually making
good. On the Saturday of third
week he locked the door of Office
A, Smith block, and took the train
down to the village to gladden. his
mothers heart by sight of himself
and his eyes by sight of Janet.
He found the girl pale and quiet,
with very little to say. 1t was not
until the end of the call that he
had the courage to ask about her lit
erary work. At his first word the
unnatural calm gave way, and she
cried like a child.
'It's no use, Burt" she sobbed.
'I've tried and tried, but everything
comes back with a polite of no use,'
and I know it is just because they
don't read my work"
Burt was sorely tempted. Had
he followed his own inclination he
would have gathered the girl into
his strong arms and bidden the
senseless editors 60 wherever they
pleased. But this was out Of the
question. '1u tell you, Janet" he
said soothingly "give me your
work and III take it back with me
tomorrow and see what / can do"
And 80 the matter rested, and
Burton returned to his office with
q roll of classical raptures, such as
~The Lushy Marsh Where the Cows
Stood Knee Deep In Cowslips" and
other totally unstable works Of his
ambitious sweetheart.
He took up another story and
read through one long outburst over
ga full blown apple orchard, where
the busy bee doth ply his trade"
awful, awfulw he said to himself.
'But what can you expect from a
COLLEGE grip Why. 7 can't even doc