Evening star., 1925-10-26
The Double Gross
BY A THOMAS.
Mystery Story Of Dramatic Power.
Continued from Yesterdays starr

Continued from Yesterdays star.)
Il don't say there isn't something
in those things, but the element OF
chance enters into every case you try
just the same. and you know it, 1t
makes a lot of difference to you what
judge is trying your case. 1t makes
n lot of difference to you whether the
opposing counsel il an able man or
a bonehead. Chance. again. 1t makes
a difference whether the judge slept
well the night before. More chance.
1t makes a lot of difference whether
your principal witnesses perform
upon the witness stand as they did
when you examined them IN your
office. Chance again. Some OF EN-
get stage fright when they get In
court. There's a lot OF luck about
your Jury, too. Sometimes you want
an intelligent jury and you get
stupid one Sometimes you want
dumb bells and you get smart Alexis.
Don't tell me. Every time YOU try
a case YOU take "A chance. and | sup
pose that's how you satisfy your par
ticular liking for gamble.
The lawyer and his client We're
lunching at the top OF Broadway
cliff, in the beautiful grillroom which
was the feature of the Lawyers cub.
Gen. Leavitt. l.. s. A., retired. was
y fIorid. hearty man OF seVenty-one or
two. who, though still in full posses,
sion Of all his physical and mental
faculties, had been releSated TO more
or less private life a few years pre-
yiousIv by the operation OF the age
limit law He had taken the precau.
tion when quite a young soiuler VI
nrovidiny for his old age by marry
70
10 wears before. and it was concern
ing the management Of her property
which she had left entirely to the
general. that he was now conNersinS
with his counsel.
"Dessert?" inquired Mr.. Colby, as
the waiter hovered at his elbow;
With my figure?s retorted the
general. Perish the idea. III nave
a bit of cheese. Got any foht
d d'Eveque?"
The waiter regretted
Hin" snorted the general, eau
this a club Come up to the Metro
noIitan-In show you something IN
The way Of food. on. well. make II
oouefort that's conservative
enough. even for you.
AS was saving. Alexander. you
should cultivate the sporting hstlhtt
outside II your own profession IL
will rattle your bones bit. Now
there's YOUR son-in-law; he's got the
RIGHT idea. He's business man from
10 to 2, and after that he's a sports
man, though l must say the last t'lee
I saw him he didn't seem to he nav
ing any the hest OF the luck. BY tne
way. do YOU ever go to Broomheid
No" said Colby, not since was
a Young fellow and Bromfield used 10
rup place at Saratoga. IL was
rather amusing in those days
"Evervthing was more amusing IN
those days," sighed the general.
what I mean is" continued CODY
that in those days Saratoga was
really gay in the true sense OF the
word. 1t was merry place during
the season. Things were at lneit
height in the month OF August: 1ou
cav everybody there At one Time or
another during that month-eseIA
body mean. who really counted
Tbare was racing for a solid month
There was polo. There was victor
Herhert's incomparable band whlch
nIayed for an hour or two three ti'ues
a day on the inside veranda OF the
crand Union Hotel. There were IN
nun,arahle parties and dinners every
night. The place was full OF heauu.
ful horses, lovely women, the scei!'
Of flowers, gay, amusing taik' 'ne az
n,oenhere of the great world. polltical
and financial. and there Was ~ , OH,
se,d,s club where of an evening YOU
nouid see the cream OF society gath-
cred around the gaming tables. res:
~ vas emusing-there's no doupt ol
that" He sighed gently. a..
.aTbep days," said the general, as
tho noet saws. Is went forever. HOW,
eyer. our friend Bromfield Is sun
gratifying the human propensity ioi
taking a chance. even tnousn Ms
stage setting is not what II was.
"Er-you say" inquired Coioy cas-,
.,i," NV son.in.law didn't seem to
he having the best OF luck last 'iiiie
YOU saw him there?
"well. no. Alexander" returned the
soldier "he wasn't what you might
call eating EN- up. But l didn s,an
tn .pe the finish. l quit ABOUT .:o'
am. I'm not as young as | was
"Rut really" said Mr.. Colby, get
ting back to business. this specula-
tive transaction of yours.
"Oh. damn it," said the general
.let up. II 1 didn't play around a
little 1 should go mad. bite myself
in the calf OF the leg and die on
hvdronhobia. You've no idea what a
damn dull life the retired soldier leads
Here I am-perfectly sound. perfectly
Al eniovins my job and fairly good
at IL II I do say so-suddenly yanked
ont Of the course OF my life and laid
unon the shelf. Nothing in the world
to do except to make public speech
now and then for the purpose Of an
moving the War Department. Thank
God for the newspapers!'
"All right. general said the
LAWYER with a smile, you 60 ahead
and get yourself into trouble as often
as YOU like. and I'll get you out OF
1t when / can
Now you're talking" retorted the
general. Now you're making a noise
that sounds like sense. II 1t wasn't
for people like me what the hell do
YOU think would become of people
like you, should like to know?
Descending to his office 10 stories
below. Mr.. Colby kept two million