Evening star., 1920-04-04
n Palm Tree court there is no
palm tree. as every one acquaint-
ed with the Temple knows. Per-

sonally ! doubt II there ever
was a palm tree there, although Sir
John Saunders, the oldest inhabitant
OF the court, declares 1t stood on the
spot where the stone flags incline to
the small drain which carries off the
rain water. To hear him talk you
would think he had seen the tree,
which is ridiculous, and I only men
ton his opinion because the drain
happens to be opposite the door of
No. 3. and on the third floor of that
building ! happen to live.
This may appear roundabout
way of introducing myself; possibly
you will find the method cnaracteris-
tic of men. Barristers, waiting for
briefs and recognition, often take to
the pen to keep themselves going.
but I never had any inclination this
way. let alone the ability, SO now that
it has fallen to my lot to set down
these chronicles they suffer naturally
at the hands Of novice. At any
rate you have gathered that l am
barrister and briefless.
1t is fortuitous wind which drifts
most of us into our particular rut in
life. and l think I must have been
blown into the wrong rut. My IA
Tiers idea that because there were
many solicitors in the family bar
rister ought to have an excellent op-
portunity. had not worked out. Sew
.eral Of my legal relations died about
a.. LA y La 1f1
preferred to take their business to
some one who had no connection with
the family. I do not blame them; 1
would ruoner deal with strangers
myself. Their neglect did not trouble
me greatly. I had enough to make
two ends meet, and. to be candid, my
youth longed for more strenuous ad-
venture than 1 was likely to find in
the law courts. / lacked the energy
to get out Of my groove and seek ad-
venture. but 1 was quite ready to
Welcome it il it came to me. And 1t
lid. It came knocking at my door
In the most unexpected and startling
manner.
am metaphoricel when I say ad-
venture knocked at my door; as
fact, 1t began at MY window, half an
hour after breakfast-not a very
curly meal on this particular morn
ing, by the way. 1t was late March,
the first touch of spring was in the
air. and, having lighted cigarette. l
threw open my window and looked
out. Palm Tree court is not beauty
srot.' The buildings are too high to
admit of much sunlight. Entrance at
o.,e end Is through a short tunnel;
at the othT there are three arches.
which we call the colonnade end. 1t re-
Quires little imagination IL you have
ever seen a real colonnade. This morn
ing there was as much sunlight as
ever got into the court. but 1t was
the girl going toward the colonnade
which lent 1t especial grace and
beauty. She wore a long brown fur
coat and a tongue to match; not par
ticularly distinguishing costume. be-
cause a lot Of girls were wearing
these coats just then. but there was
something which differentiated her
from others. There was an elasticity
IN her step. swing Of her body.
Which attracted me; 1t was not merely
the fact that she was the only girl
In the world visible at the moment.
The opening Of my window had made
! noise, l suppose, and she glanced
mp. OF course. l was looking at her
from an angle and from the height OF
= third fioor. but 1 got the impression
that she was pretty. AS she entered
the colonnade she looked up gain,
smiled, and gave a little wave Of her
hand. in which she carried her glove.
can almost hear the thought pass
Ing through the minds of some peo-
ple. Not a nice type of girl. they
argue, but. remember. 1t was the first
touch Of spring 1t was in my blood.
I jumped to the conclusion it was also
In hers, and thought no harm. l had
to change my coat and put on my
shoes but only few moments
elapsed before i was rushing down
the stairs. On the bottom fight l
met an elderly gentleman coming up
1T would per haps be more correct to
say just missed him in my hasty de-
scent.
els there Mr.. Anderson in this
building" he asked as I went past
him