The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1923-12-14

4
and grimy entry and up dark and
grimy flight of stairs; and, having felt
your way along a dark and grimy pas
sage, you come at length to a dark and
grimy door. There is plenty Of dirt
! in other parts of Ridgeway's Inn, but
nowhere is it so plentiful, so rich in al
luvial deposits, as on the exterior Of
the offices of Marlowe, Thorpe, Pres
colt, Winslow and Appleby. AS you tap
on the topmost of the geological strata
concealing the ground-glass of the door.
sense of relief and security floods
your being. For in London grubbiness
is the gauge of a lawyers respectable
| ity.
The brass plate, let into the wood
work of this door, is misleading. Read.
ing it, you get the impression that on
the other side quite covey of lawyers
| await your arrival. The name of the
firm leads you to suppose that there
| will be barely standing room in the Of
fee. You picture Thorpe jostling you
aside as he's makes for Prescott to dis
cuss with him the latest case of de-
murrer, and Winslow and Appleby
treading on your toes, deep In CONVEX
sation on replevin. But these legal
firms 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. Th0rpe-what 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
fee, where callers were received and
parked till Sir Mallaby could find time
for them. was occupied by 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 half
eaten sausage, in the other an extraor-
dinarily large and powerful revolver At
the sight Of Sam he laid down both en-
gines Of destruction and beamed. He
was not particularly successful
beamer, being hampered by a cast in
one eye which gave him 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
cordially, 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. Samuell"
"Hullo, Peters,"
"Wetw were expecting you back week
ago. So you got back safe?"
safe? Why, Of course"
4 Peters shook his head.
Il cOnefss that, when there was this
delay in your coming here, sometimes
feared something might have happened
to you. l recall mentioning 1t to the
young lady who recently did me the
honor to promise to become my wife"
ocean liners aren't often wrecked
nowadays
II was thinking more of the brawls
| on shore. Americas dangerous coun-
try. But perhaps you were not in touch
with the underworld?'
Il don't think was"
"Ah" said John Peters, significant
ly.
He took up the revolver, gave 1t a
4 fond and almost paternal look, and
/ replaced it on the desk.
| What on earth are you doing with
that thingT' asked Sam.
Mr.. Peters lowered his voice.
I'm going to America myself In a
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 big case over there. A client of
ours is mixed up in it, an American
gentleman. am to take these impor-
tant papers to his legal representative
In New York. So thought 1t best to
be prepared"
| The first smile that he had permitted
himself in nearly two weeks fitted
across Sans face.
| 'What on earth sort of a place do
you think New York is?' he asked. "It's
safer than London"
"Ah, but what about the underworld?
i've seen these American films that
they send over here. Mr.. Samuel. Every
Saturday night regular take my young