Shoshone journal., 1923-12-21

Sdse' you come at length to a dark and
sriny door. There is plenty of dirt
In other parts Of Ridgeway's Inn. but
nowhere Is it so plentiful, so rich In al
iuVial deposits, as On the exterior of
ehe ofiices of Marlowe. Thorpe, Pres
cott' Winslow and Appleby. AS you tap
on the topmost Of the geological strata
eohcealing the ground-gIass of the door,
sense Of relief and security foods
your being. For in London grubbiness
IS the gauge of lawyers respectable
ity.
The brass plate, let into the wood.
work of this door, Is misleading. Read.
ing 1t, you get the impression that on
the other side quite covey Of lawyers
await your arrival. The name of the
ilrm leads you to suppose that there
will be barely standing room in the of
1ce. You picture Thorpe jostling you
aside as he makes for Prescott to dis
cuss with him the latest case of de-
murrer, and Winslow and Appleby
treading on your toes, deep in conver-
hrns dwindle. The years go by and
take their toll, snatching away here a
Prescott, there an Appleby, till before
you know where you are, you are
down to your last lawyer The only
surviving member of the firm of Mar
lowe, ThOrpe-what l said before
was, at the time with which this story
deals, Sir Mallaby Marlowe, son of the
original founder of the firm and father
of the celebrated black-faced comedian,
Samuel of that ilk; and the outer Of
flee, where callers were received and
parked till Sir Mallaby could find time
for them, was occupied by a single
clerk.
When Sam, reaching the Office after
his journey, opened the door, this clerk,
John Peters by name, was seated on
high stool, holding in one hand a half
eaten sausage, in the other an extraor-
dinarily large and powerful revolver. At
the sight Of Sam he laid dowB both en-
gines of destruction and beamed. He
was not a particularly successful
beamer, being hampered by a cast in
one eye which gave him a truculent
and sinister look but those who knew
him knew that he had heart of gold
and were not intimidated by his repel-
lent face. Between Sam and himself
there had always existed terms OF
cordiality, starting from the time when
the former was a small boy, and it had
been John Peters mission to take him
now to the Zoo, now to the train back
to school.
"Why. Mr. Samuel"
"Hullo. Petersr
I'VE were expecting you back week
ago. SO you got back safe?"
"Safe? Why. of course"
Peters shook his head.
'I conefss that, when there was this
delay in your coming here, sometimes
feared something might have happened
to you. I recall mentioning it to the
young lady who recently did me the
honor TO promise to become my wife
ocean liners aren't often wrecked
nowadays.
"I was thinking more of the brawls
on shore. Americas dangerous conn
try. But perhaps you were not in touch
with the underworld"
81 don't think I was"
"Ahr' said John Peters. significant
ly.
He took up the revolver, gave it
fond and almost paternal look. and
replaced it on the desk.
what on earth are you doing with
that thing?" asked Sam.
Mr.. Peters lowered his voice.
"rm going to America myself in
few DAYS time, Mr.. Samuel. It's my
annual holiday. and the guvnor's send
ing me over with papers in connection
with The People V. Schultz and Bowen
It's a big case over there. A client Of
ours is mixed up in it. an American
gentleman. | am to take these impor-
tant napers to his legal representative
in New York So thought it best to
he prepared
The first smile that he had permitted
himself in nearly two weeks hitted
across Sans face.
"Vhaf on earth sort Of a place do
rou think New York is?" he asked "lts
safer than London"
"Ah. hut what about the underworiHt
rye seen these American films mar
they send over here. Mr.. Samuel. Every
Saturday night regular take my young
lady ~ a rinema. and. tell you they
roach you something. Did you ever see
Wolves Of the Rowery'f There was
man IN than IN Just my position. carry
inc important papers. and what they
didn't fry 20 do 10 him No in taxing
no rhances. SIR. samuel" :"
II should have said you were lus
.inr thai thing about wifh you,
AR Peters seemed wounded
.0h understand me meshaHisin
nerfecty. ana ; aio beeomlng very
an shof. I lake my iifile bite of f''1
ir Mere early and go ani pracii'e ai
~ paipari sfraei r'ne range during n',
innrb hour You'd be suryr'sel now |
auirsly one plc,s . pp Nhep s''
fon.e AZ nlgli , u3 hos gples : f'p