Smyrna times., 1918-03-27
TWO BLACK HOGS
Copyright. 1918 by the Mcclure Newspa-
Der SYndicatel
BY C. 3. LEWIS.

per Syndicate)
James Graham had come to the sub
urban village of SpringharbOr in the |
month of August, and hung out his |
shingle as an attOrney-at-law.
Clyde SOmmers had come to the
same village one month later and hung
out his shingle as in the same profess
sion.
Their offices were not a half block
from each other, and, as they read
each others signs, a spirit of rivalry
was born.
1t was almost the first week of their
coming, when they caught sight Of
Miss Minnie Sherman of the Cedar
Grove" Manor house about three miles
out of town, but it was some time be-
fore they realized that they were also
rivals in that case. 1t was by design
that SOmmers called at the house and
made some excuse about an old deed.
He talked with the father and he chat
ted with the daughter, and he made up
his mind that he would win her.
Young Graham came later, and there
was no design about it. He was out in
his auto, with which he was not very
well acquainted, and it went dead"
before the gate of the manor house.
When he had tinkered with it for about
ten minutes, Miss Minnie came out to
the gate to lend her assistance. There
is bond between autOists that makes
them do this, and not always wait for
an introduction.
| In five minutes the legal machine
was all right again, and, though but
few words had passed, there was a
favorable impression on both sides.
BY and by both young lawyers were
callers at the house. When this state
of affairs had been going on for three
| months, Mr.. SOmmerS admitted to him
self that he was not gaining in his
object, and it provoked and irritated
him.
One spring day, when Miss Minnie
was driving her auto over a country
road, she had the misfortune to run
over and kill black hog belonging to
a farmer. This farmer was known far
and wide for his hatred Of autOists,
and their vehicles. He came out of his
house at the hogs last squeal, and he
came with furious language. He was
interrupted by the statement that the
full value Of the hog should be paid
but when 1t came down to that he
wanted about five times as much as
the pOrker was worth. He was told tC
sue for it, and he went off and sued
That is, he came tramping into the Law
office Of Mr.. SOmmers and demanded
his legal rights.
The lawyer took the case. He wanted
to get even not only with the girl, bu
with young Graham, who would bt
employed to defend the case, if any
one was. He could defend himself t
the girl by saying that a lawyer mus
take a case when it is offered him.
By a strange plan of Providence
young Graham went riding on tn
same day By a still stranger plan, h
ran over a black hog. The fatal acci
dents occurred three miles apart bu
they were both black hogs. When h
knew he had killed hog, young Gra
ham descended from his vehicle an
drew the carcass into the rOadsid
ditch. Then he passed on and though
no more of it until he heard that Mis-
Minnie Sherman had been summOne
into court. He heard of it by her cal
ing at the Office, and retaining him fC
the defense. He hunted up the farmt
who owned the hog that lie had kille
and paid for it and then had conf
Dental talk. AS a consequence, thu
farmer was called as a witness.
When the suit came off and the lay
yer for the plaintiff had made his Ope
ing speech, young Graham made
motion that the case be thrown out
court on the ground that he had RI
over and killed a black hog himself (
that very day. There were black no
In plenty but it was impossible tn
two black hogs should meet the
deaths on the same day on the saI
- highway.
"But, your honor" protested So
mers, 1.-THE plaintiff in this case had
black hog, too, and he was killed
an auto. What becomes of him? The
seems to be a queer mixup here"
'There does. indeed" replied
honor. II shall dismiss the case
want of better evidence"
But, your honor" shouted So
mers. "This case has been befOgg
There was an intention to befOg
Why don't this court compel my bro
er to present his case in a legal way
Because there is no case" solemn
replied his honor.
But there was another case
months later and Mr.. Graham prese
ed it in such a manner that he "