Gunnison news-champion., 1919-09-26
The .Jmi;or
Client
AvAsaRNaW AAW

=, VAeaR NGUa lmAWv
sussulsna ~ - vs.a-a nwusp. uuA,
u was sumner dullness in tie Nv
courts and was lolling in . chair at
the odhcs window. trying to dsclds
upon . brief vacation away from tie
dust and din a the city. I had been
in pescties for Q year and hsA done
moderately wen In . money way. I
turned from my Idle survey Of tie
street ~ heard . footstep I'm the hall
outside. 4 lad o. about fourteen Stood
reading the inscription On my dsur:
-Robert Lane. Attorney at Law
~ yoa please. sir." he said. advane-
ing timorously. -are you Mr.. Lanef'
That's NY name" I replied. node
ing dat the bog was very pale and
seemed labosing under some unusual
strain Of agitation.
'.Then would like to ask your ad-
vice. have just been discharged
from employment. They accuse me Of
something I never did-steallng. They
paid me and have ten dollars In ny
pocket. How much Of II would you
want to tell me what I am to dot"
His eyes were fearless. his attire
neat. his whole presentation that Of an
Intelligent and honest youth. I noted
how much he tried to control the Quiv-
ering lip and maintain the open manli-
ness that seemed natural to him.
'we won't tnlk Of fee. my lad. at
this stage Of the casa" said. swhat
y the troubler
Briefly he told me. He was Hal
Barton. and had been working for two
months In the wholesale jewelry estab-
lishment Of Morse q Co. For some
time past It was current talk that the
house was missing various articles
from their stock. They had made a
search Of the desks Of the various en-
ployees. In his own. they claimed.
they hnd found q watch and chain
done up In handkerchief.
~ never saw 1t before. and the hand
kerchIcf was not mine," explained the
lad. The manager was CROSS and OBJ
stInnte. He simply told me to draw
my pay and leave. think It very un.
Just. II spolls my chances Of other
work. and II my sister Inex doubts my
innocence II will break my heart.
Won't you help me with your advice7''
rather greeted this sensational
break upon my loneliness a. panacea
for ennui and proceeded promptly to
inferrogate my youthful client. At the
end Of half an hour I WINS fully con.
vinced thnt Hal Barton was Just what
he purported to be and victim Of IN.
toward circumstances. He was averse
to going home with his doleful story.
He and his sister. Inex. were orphans,
both working for . living, and ! dis
cerned that the lad had been brought
up In the right way. ! determined on
immediate action. I went promptly to
the store Of Morse 4 Co. and was soon
closeted with the manager.
The latter admitted that he had
acted rather harshly with Hal. but put
up the plant that their mysterious
losses were becoming an Item that was
serious. He showed me Halls desk
and the watch and chain and the hand
kerchief. He stared at me strangely
~ asked permission 10 retain the lat
ter article.
~Goins to do some detective work r
he insinuated.
II am, II It will prove the Innocence
Of lad you have wronged." an
swered gravely. II ask q week to act
IN that capacity. but at no charge to
you.s
Thea went hack to the once and
offered to 20 home with Hal He was
overjoyed at the proffer. We found
his sister wording on Z dress. The
first glimpse ! had Of that lovely, in
genuous face . new interest came into
the case for me. I told my story and
that Of Hal. Not for an instant did
Inez Barton doubt the innocence Of
her brother. and both seemed relieved
and glad that ! extended my friendly
aid. I asked Hal to call at my once
the NEXT morning.
do you recall anyone with Morse
4 Co. who IL given to. the use Of per-
fumesyr ! asked Hal. "a man. for
this IL q mans handkerchief. And his
name. according to the initial begins
with c.
@Cf Ca-F.r-Carri Oh, Mr.. Lane"
instantly cried Hal. s'he u our inven-
tory clerk. He wouldn't steal r.
II didn't say that he would. Hal"
replfed. s~The handkAfrhiaf U,1reafn
him. though, II seems. Never mind
forget that. Tell your sister viii re-
port progress In q day or two" and
my mind a. full Of Inez a. Of my SELF
Imposed mission. took up the trail Of
Walter Carr forthwith, learning from
Hal sufficient Of his routine to map
out my plan Of action.
I brought Joy and relief to the
humble Barton homo the last day Of
that week. With eyes bedewed with
grateful tears Ines Barton listened to