The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-12
EUeninl,g Story
Due Process of Law.
BY H. IRVING KING

to oblige me: it's
hardly business. Years ago. when nat
urally 1 was younger thanz1 am now
and trifle more foolish, I had a
rather Intimate acquaintance named
Reginald Fontain. We Belonged to a
speedy set, am afraid
= The lawyer turned toward the win
dow and gazed unseeingly out over the
city; a reminiscent look came into his
usually immobile face.
"Regy had plenty of money in those
days" he continued, land went the
pace. l saw little of him after I mar
ried, for l put away childish things,
and now-weu am fairly prosperous
and a sober citizen. But Regy, al
gas / have heard he went thru his
own fortune and his wife,s too. Some
say she died of a broken heart. How
ever, for years had heard nothing of
Reginald Fontain until today got a
letter from him
Its "a barely disguised begging let
ter Now, 1 want you to investigate
and see just how the land lies. I
wouldn't mind, helping him little II
it would do him any good-if he really
personally at first-weil, it might be
awkward, for I can't do much for him.
I really can't afford to. But you go
and see and report to me. Then I'll
know just what to DO.
Now, zElihu Goodwin was rich and,
as they say down East, mighty nigh"
He never did like to meet poor people
and the dislike had grown upon him
with the years. Still, Goodwin felt.
that he could not entirely disregard
Fontain's appeal. There stirred in
him vague recollections OF financial
transactions in the dim past in which
Elihu had been the beneficiary of
Reginald-borrowed and forgotten
sums Frank made the visit as re-
quested by his employer and found
the shattered wreck of him who had
once been the gay and reckless Regf-
maid Fontain reclining in an easy
chair in cheap flat. The young man
explained to him thatSdmportant busf-
ness had prevented Mr.. Goodwin" etc,
and he had sent him (FlrankC ito
ascertain how he (Goodwin) could be
of assistance" etc.
Fontain at once launched forth into
a rambling tale of. woe, the only sa-
lient facts of which appeared to be
that both Reginald's finances and
Reginalds liver were in sadly de-
rambling on a door opened and light
footstep was heard. "Ah," said Fon-
tain, my daughter! Bertha, come
here" In response to the summons
there appeared slender young wo-
man Of about twenty-five, whose face
care and sorrow had been the portion
of Bertha Fontain no one could doubt
who gazed upon her. but they had left
as their traces only a look OF sweet
ness and resignation which added to
the charm of her countenance. Frank
Carey, for the first time in his self
Fappreciative life.- felt bashful and con-
fused in the presence of a woman, and
when, after a short conversation, in
which he somehow learned that
Bertha was a stenographer in down
town office, he left the flat and took
his homeward way. He was in such
state of observation-disclosures that he
found himself in the uptown station
of the elevated when he wanted to
take a downtown train.
When, next morning, Frank made
his report to his employer he said
nothing about Bertha except that she
was her fathers sole support.
"a pale, wornout creature, I sup
pose" said Goodwin.
"No-o-o," stammered Frank, "she is
subject abruptly.
well" said the lawyer, ST suppose
really ought to go and see Fontain.
I will attend to it tomorrow
He made the call and results fol-
lowed rapidly. Fontain moved into
another and more expensive flat and
little evidences,1of luxury and ready
| money began to, appear about him.
Goodwin, who had been a widower for
six years and had two married daugh-
tiers and numerous grandchildren. be-
gan to spruce up and indulge in out
rageously youthful cravarS. He was
a constant caller at the Fontain flat
1t was as plain as the nose on the
face of a Roman Senator-the lawyer
had picked out Bertha for Mrs. Good
win number two and father was pre-
pared toAhand her over for a Pc
cunlary, remuneration.
Frank was frequently an ambassa-
dor for his employer to the Fontain
establishment, and in one way or an
other he and Bertha managed to see
| a good deal of each other. He saw
and Bertha saw, what was up; but il
never seemed to enter the heads OF
| their elders that what they though!
concerning it was of any moment
whatever. Frank and Bertha, how
ever. regarded their own opinions as
| of the greatest Importance.
The law clerk saw that~he must sue
out two processes in the court of love
"a permanent injunction to. restrain
| his employer and a writ Of habeas
corpus for the possession of Bertha.
But there were the two married
daughters whom someone had inform
| ed of their fathers folly-not Frank;
he was above anonym Gus letters-and
| who were on their way, the one from
Portland, Me-, and the other from
0HlcdSOp WIFI all their CnlluTens "
protest. But in the efficacy of thf
protestations of married daughters
Frank had little confidence. There
remained the Mrs. Gallen, widow OF
Gallen. the butter king, fair fat and
| forty-five and with a million in hei
own right. About two years before
| Elihu, in one of his marrying spells
had fixed his affection upon the
/ widow-and her money! He had been
quite broken up and cross as a bear
| for two months when she suddenly
went off to Europe. Frank picked up
the morning paper and saw the wild
ow's name in the list of arrivals by
steamship. Here was hope! Goodwin
was her attorney-had been her nus
bands. She was sure to visit his
| office.
Perhaps, thought Frank, Elihu
/ would have on the one hand girl,
| young and beautiful to be sure. but
| penniless and encumbered with a
| diSran1lta old father