The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1921-04-07
HIS FIRST CLIENT
BY LILLIAN ?. LEONARD.

! BY LILLIAN p. LEONARD. :
9e~~e~sss'sse~esss~e
"a 1871. b. Mcclure Newspaper syaaicats.l
"Cheero. old dearl"
"Whereya get that stun, 'cheero' r
"Cheer up! Look at the sun shining
and"
Little brides singing 'tweet, tweet,
suppose" growled Ross in tone Of
utter disgust. Bringing his feet down
from the window sill with a bang and
rising with huge yawn he stretched
his already long arms to their utmost.
As he stood in this position he
looked like some colossal figure sup
plicating the cosmic powers, his mouth
wide IN invocation. So thought the
apparition as she opened the door and
stood hesitating on the threshold !!
Ross, crimson, brought himself into
shape, while the man opposite Slid the
cuspidor under the desk with his foot.
For the girl in the doorway was the
first human being, other than them
selves. who had opened that door that
door lettered with ornate gilt letter
ing:
Ross Adams
Henry benson
Real Estate, Mortgages,
Justice Of the Peace Notary Public
WALK IN.
The girl stepped into the room and
took the chair proffered by the mo-
mentarily f1ustered Ross, while Henry
evaporated toward door marked "pri-
fate" in severely plain, black letters.
The usual light remarks had been
made, and Ross, taking a gasplng fly
er into his first taste of business,
asked:
There is some matter I could assist
you in, Miss?
II came to see a justice Of the
peace" replied the girl, blushing
wildly.
well. 1 am Ross Adams, justice of
the peace"
The girl looked at the floor bit her
lip and stammered
"Iou marry people?"
He took q grip on himself and an
swered airily:
"Oh, yes. to be sure, when every
thing appears all right and parties
have the license"
How many people have you mar
ried, Mr.. Adams"
why. er-er-hundreds- course
l never kept count"
"Oh, I am SO sorry; l wanted to be
the first. VIII you marry me?"
Yes, indeed. I shall be delighted"
smiled Ross.
AT this moment the door swung
open and two men, heavily bearded,
precision took stand on each side of
Ross. while in duet they chanted:
"We are witnesses to your promise
to marry this young lady?
With swift back-action swat, Ross
cuffed the pseudo girl soundly across
the cheek. while with lightning speed
he clutched at the mems boards. They
came forth in each hand, but there
also came forth a startled yelp In an
Enthusiastically feminine voice from the
girl in the chair. and Ross was staring
Mortified at "Girlie" of college days
in the face of one of the men he had
denuded Of a beard.
"Now. see here, 'Girlie.'" said Ross,
II always told you that no good ever
came from practical joking. You have
brought this upon yourselves. But"
turning to the girl, who was crouched
down In the chair with hand held to
a crimson cheek, my deepest regrets
to this young lady for my brutal act
and my only hope is that she will for
give me. Who is she anyway"
ooh, that's only my kid sister and
she don't mind little crack like that!
Ought to see her sometimes after she
has put on the gloves with mel"
"Huh!" flashed the girl. 'Mr. Ross,
you should see him when get
through with himl he looks like a
beef steak pie for week after
But though 1 know that every tooth
is knocked down my throat and that
my jaw is fractured in thousand
pieces, I guess I'll forgive you this
time"
Gee I" mourned "Girlie," "went and
messed up the whole show after our
rehearsing for a week. But see here,
Ross, this is Jim Turner" motioning
toward the other man who had leaped
to to the side Of the girl and was
trying to comfort her in most lover
like manner
"All right" replied Ross, "and now,
the why of all this fool farce|
"Oh, Sis and Jim want to be mar
ried, that's all. Folks kicking up a
rumpus, but Sis and I are strong for
Jim, so go to itP
Ross, from whom all timidity OF
first business" had fed, took from