Evening star., 1937-01-17

spiracy. So when he talked to a client
he had hidden stenographer take
down everything that was said; he
took pains to draw the client into
damaging statements but to make
none himself.
He could play solos on his voice as
if it were a saxophone. With it he
could, like the Pied Piper, turn jury
men and jurywomen into children and
lead them through the mountains of
solid fact into those caves of black
nonsense where they believed what
he said about feminine helplessness
against masculine wiles, and where he
transmitted pretended heartbreaks
into dollar damages.
Ivy told Mosk her story as she and
Andy had collaborated on it. and he
commented on it in voice of such
sympathy that she was soon feeling
very sorry for herself. and as bitter
against Nicky as if he had really
played her false.
MY dear child" said Mosk. II
am a family man myself. with
daughters of my own. My wife Il
call her Mothei - we'll. Mother and
are always praying that our own little
flock may escape the snares of the
despoiler. l am shocked by what this
scamp, this Nicholas Allard. has done
to you. 1t only proves once more that
poor young girls should know that
they are playing with fire when they
60 around with rich young men. 1t is
our duty to teach these young men
that they also are playing with fire
when they -er play with poor
young girls. They may - and should
get their fingers burned. too. Other
wise, who is safe? The great American
home is in danger.
in your case, my child. l can see
why this rascal took you in so easily.
He has left you without evidence
enough to convict him before even the
most credulous -er, sympathetic jury.
The ring is good. and the salesman's
testimony is interesting. But anybody
can buy a ring and anybody can tell
a salesman that it is an engagement
ring. But the Allards are rich enough
to employ unscrupulous lawyers who
will defy you to establish that your
ring and your salesman's hearsay
evidence prove anything.
The love-note of which you gave
me a copy would be valuable in sub
sanitation of positive proof of pro-
posal, but, sweet as it is, it is hardly
a contract.
'I'm afraid. my child, that you are
only another of the countless victims
of mans perhdy. ! could not con-
scientiously advise you to 60 to court
with what you have. 1t would be un-
ethical Of me to take money from you
as your attorney, knowing how little
chance you stand to recover damages.
1T would be still more unethical of
me to advise you how to get evidence
against this scoundrel. AS a lawyer
am an officer OF the court. and under
oath not to give you any advice that
would be - er- unethical. But if
were not a lawyer, and permitted to
be just friend - as it were. a father
- to you, l could tell you what evil
dence a lawyer would be willing to
take to court.
For example. if you had brought
me if you should yet bring me -
proof that young Allard took you out
to some obscure inn in the country
under cover of pretence that he had
lost his way. or had run out of gasoline
any of the deceptions evil men con-
coct to persuade the trusting to their
ruin; and if, under the pretence that
he was going to marry you soon, he
did or should - actually register
himself and you as man and wife to
deceive the innkeeper; and if credit
able witnesses should testify that they
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