Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1919-10-23
WEEKLY SHORT STORY
HOW A CROOKED LAWYER WAS
CROOKED.
BY G. III. Murphey.

baskerville. Things had gone wrong
With nIm lately and lie Was III d ae-
spondent moou. he mad not had a
client III many months and he telt as
II the public had forgotten thai ne
Was 10 the pract4ce OF MS profession.
1ne town jail was empty and things
as whole looked very bad for MI.
Wilson.
AS he sat, looking from the window,
he saw Joe Simpson push the swinging
doors OF the Pup" saloon and enter
upon the sidewalk. Immediately a
thought came into Wilson's mind and
leaning from the window, he called
Simpson. Joe crossed the street ana
climbed the stairs that led to the
lawyers office.
"Sit down, Joe," said Wilson, as Joe
entered the door.
Joe Simpson bore the marks OF hav-
ing Lived a better life in his earlier
days. The life that he had been hv-
ing for the past few years was telling
upon him. He had the face OF a
drunkard.
"Joe," the lawyer began, "Why don't
you straighten up and be a man IN
stead OF drinking and carouslng
around the way you do!"
Il don't know that's any OF your
business" was the reply OF the young
man.
Il do think it is some Of my business
and | think it is the business OF every
man that was friend OF your fathers
| never had a better friend in my
whole life than your dad and 1t hurts
me to see his only heir do as you
have been doing" replied Mr.. Wilson.
Joe was thrown completely off his
guard by these last words. He gazed
at Mr.. Wilson with an air of astonlsh-
ment, for this was the first time that
he had ever heard Of Arthur Wilson
doing anything for somebod y without
demanding a fee.
81 haven't any money and it is I'M
possible for a man to accomplish any
thing without money!" said Joe.
That's true indeed" added the law
yer. "f l had any money would
gladly help you, but business is rot
ten and l am up against 1t myself.
Why don't you go and see your Uncle
. Nathan at Wi1liamsport and ask him
for he1s," further added MI. Wilson.
MOT a chance in the world" replied
Joe.
MAKE him help you. You can do
it," remarked the elderly man.
81 can't make him do thing that
he don't want to do" added Joe.
81 have a scheme that will make the
old man come across" the lawyer SAID
with a smile.
"Well, if it is reasonable, l will try
it," answered Joe.
ct is very reasonable and above
all it is practicable. AS you know
your uncle is very proud; and anything
that might help to degrade the honor
of your family why | dent think ne
would let money interfere" wisely re-
marked the lawyer.
81 will not enter into any conspiracy
that will bear upon my family's good
reputation and honor" answered the
young man.
II am going to give you a chance
to save your honor" replied Wilson.
Here's the situation in nut shell"
ooh, well, go on, let's hear your
plan"
You are broke and from the present
viewpoint you will remain so. Your
money comes in small lots and lar
between, and here's chance for you
to make a couple of hundred dollars.
Now, supposing that you got INTO
trouble and you wrote your uncle
lette-, telling him that you are liable
to have to go to prison unless he came
to your aid with some money. He to
save the honor Of your family name
would help you and 1 will make bet
on it. You could tell him to hire me
as a lawyer and after it is over, we
would split the fees" said the shrewd
lawyer.
Joe was amazed, for he had never
thought that Mr.. Wilson was that sort
of man and lawyer.
1T will do it," said Joe. "Tell me
just what my part of this frame-up
is"
In a few days Joe was arrested for
having forged check for twenty-five
dollars on the Corner Drug Store.
Joe wrote his uncle that he was in
jail and that he needed money. In
few days letter came from the old
man. 1t was just as he had hoped for.
l. n c