Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-02-18

clean blotter until it looked like a. dotted
map Of topsyturvydom.
The drawers Of his desk were literally
bullying with work, and he had rung sew
eral times for his secretary. but each
time he had sent the girl away know
ing that he could think Of only one case
and that was not yet ripe for action.
He picked up a letter from his desk
ard read lis closing lines:
IF you think I would stoop to petty
theft, do not make an appointment; we
shall only be wasting time"
Then he glanced at big front page
story in a morning paper:
MY God" he muttered under~~+5Iis
breath, "does she call that petty theft?'
That's grand larceny"
He started to pace up and down the
room. People who knew him best would
never have recognized the cool promi-
nent lawyer, whose masterful handling
Of difficult cases that had brought him
lucrative fame. In the anxious man stalk
ing " and down, counting minutes as
hours. and the morning a lifetime
Besides being a lawyer Of uncommon
ability, Tilton was shreWd politician,
in the good Sense Of the word At first
his best friends, or rather the best of
his friends, deplOred his entry into what
they termed corrupt profession, but
! the lawyer stoutly maintained his scrup-
ulOus motives. "AIl inside information"
he explained, from whatever source is
grist TO a lawyers mill" He believed that
one could study corruption without con
tamination.
Time proved that he was right, for
although Tilton's name frequently ap-
peared In hig heavy headlines In evening
papers, and he figured In great under
takings backed by political parties. his
keenest opponents had to admit that be
played a fair game.
At 49, a bachelor, he had the whole
some appearance that w1rk, success, and
a decent life gives to tf76 pIainest man.
In the outer room Tiltons secretary
yawRSd, manicured her nails and finally
pulled out from her desk novel. which
had heretofore failed to interest her
Nothing TO dor asked a steuographer
passing the door.
Miss Ellis, welcoming a chat, bright
ened
II don't know what has come over
Mr.. Tilton, Grace" she whispered. Il
believe he is getting tcmperamental.
He has rung for me three times this
morning and each time he has changed
his mind" a
What DO you mean, changed his
mind?' queried Grace.
why, he Just looks surprised as
though be had forgotten ~ng the
bell, and says Never MIND . lis A
few minutes ago he was and
then directly afterward I'm heard
q deep groan."
Didn't you go in to see?" asked the
other girl inquisitiyely.
"0f course, couldn't deliberately ask
him II anything was the mater. bnt
made an excuse to 30 into his private
office l had wanted for some time to
ask him when I might take my vacation.
Just as I had my hand on the door /
heard him talking to himself and he was
saying, If have to pull every string IN
the accursed political camef III win
out So guess it's an unusually hard
case that is worrying him"
Since when did our boss have to
worry about a hard case? ?" Grace asked
confidently. I'm not worrying for him
axe II from me. what aid he say about
your vacation? That interests me much
more"
He said he didn't know whether he
could spare me at all; he expects TO be
very busy. What do you think Of that?"
Il think he needs a vacation himself"
decided the other girl
"A vacation himself" echoed Miss Ellis.
You don't know him. prominent
lawyer. Ike our boss, never takes real
! vacation. He comes 10 the office early
and stays late. year IN and year out"
The stenogrspher threw up her hands
as II TO be a prominent lawyer was to be
cursed. No two weeks vacation; no
going home at 3 o'clock every day, with
Saturday afternoons and holidays for
herself, to her mind was a haEd life in
deed.
Good Lord" she exclaimed. I'D rather