Smyrna times., 1932-02-17
WEEKLY SOCIETY STORY FOR
EVENING ROUND THE LAMP
READING TO WHILE AWAY
TIME AFTER DAYS CHORES
"Betty's Bill" An Interesting
Short Story, Whitten by Cor
Ona Remington


home with the air of a conquering
hero. He gave the door bell a sharp
punch and in a moment Betty her
self had opened The door and stood
before him, pink and radiant.
Il knew it was you by the way
you rang" she said, when they had
exchanged the usual greetings.
''YOu have good news, too"
BY this time they were walking
slowly toward the living room.
Il have" he answered, standing
stock still. 1.-THE greatest news that
anyone ever had in this whole
world Get your frills ready, we're
going to be married soon"
"BillI' she exclaimed, giving his
hand a little squeeze. Tell me, do !!
l can't wait to hear. Let's sit down
quick before | fall.'
You know old John Tollman?
Mean old devil, but he's got the
kale all right. Well, he was in a
street car accident not long ago and
he's engaged me to take the case
and recover damages. Me! Can
you believe it. We ought to be
able to get married on the fee."
"Bill Colllngsworth. you're the
greatest lawyer in this whole city
full of men. I've always known
it, and now the worlds beginning
TO find it out" said Betty, looking
adOringly at her tiance.
When old Tollman entered Bill
COllingsworth's Office the next day
the young lawyer experienced a
sudden revulsion of feeling as his
swift glance took IN the grabbed old
face, the cOlorless lips, the dia-
mond stickpin and the heavy fur
coat of his prospective client.
We'll, young man." he began.
throwing off his coat and dropping
stiffly into a chair. Il hear you're a
smart chap and that's the very kind
I'm looking for This is going to
be hard case, the company will
contest it on the grounds that it was
my fault. but I'm a good client. I'll
do and say what my lawyer tells
me-" He winked at young Ceilings
worth and continued, land | got a
bunch o. witnesses who are willing
TO do the same he ended laughing
loudly and slapping his leg.
I'm sorry SAID Collingsworth
rising. his face drawn and white
but I'm afraid I'm not just the
kind of an attorney you need.
don't believe | could handle your
case"
Il guess | must have come to the
wrong place." snarled Tollman, his
jOvial manner suddenly gone. 81
reckon you amt a lawyer at all but
a Sunday school teacher"
Pm proud of my Bill" said
Betty after she had heard the story,
land what do you care? Something
better may come along any day"
DisconsOlately. he returned TO his
Office. 1t poured all day and not
a client came near. The whole
week was a nightmare. 1t seemed
as if every one had forgotten him.
After days of silence the jangling
of the telephone at bis elbow made
him start suddenly.
This is Harrison of the Railway
and Light company" said a hearty
voice. Gould you come down TO
my office some time this afternoon?'
Colllngsworth silently swallowed
amazement and consulted a blank
date book.
'Let's see," he said over the wire.
"One O'Clock Two
could see you for half an hour from
three-thirty to four. Will that do?''
"Finep" answered Harrison. "Tll
expect you then. Good-by"
Now. what d'you suppose he
wants with me?" muttered Ceilings
worth after he had hung up.
But he could not solve the prob
lem, and it was nearly four o'clock
before he found ont.
Heard something about you the
other day." said Harrison when
greetings were over. Somebody
told me that you had refused the
Tollman case because you dent
think he was using honest meth
DDS"
Il didn't say anything of the
sort" answered COllingsworth hotly.
Il simply refused the case without
explanation My reasons for doing
so are my own
That's all right, son, under.
stand" soothed the older man. q
just want to tell you that you've
got backbone and like your busi-
ness methods. Crookedness may
get by for awhile but honesty
stands the test of time. Now, I've
been enquring about you and you
seem to be pretty smart young
man. Mr. Eckel. our attorney for
the past twenty years. is retiring
the first of the year and going
abroad to live. How'd you like to
step into his shoes?"
COllingsworth gripped the arm
his chair and struggled to modify
the ecstacy in his voice as he spoke
"Franklv think I'd II1xa a