The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-11-23
BY JOHN BARR
(ronvrlrht NOticel


perience TO draw a very peculiar will
for q very eccentric client.
MY single hadn't been out long
when I received q telephone call
from an acquaintance who was the
proprietress Of q large and fashion
able old-style family boarding
house comprising several connected
residences on Lexington avenue.
"Can you come here to see me
right away" she asked. Il think
have client for you. He lives here
in ny best suite Of rooms and Is
supposed to be rich. He Is elderly
alone, and rarely goes out Of the
house. He has just had a row with
his lawyer, who was drawing his will
and has discharged him In a rage
He told me about 1t, and asked II
I knew any young lawyer who coulo
keep his mouth shut, and not poster
him with questions and advice, but
just write down In legal form ex-
actly what he dictates.
II recommended you, and he said
to have you come here and let him
look you over. So come as quick as
YOU can and I'll take you to his
apartment-after posting you a lit
tie more"
Arriving at the boarding -house, the
landlady first led me aside, where
we'd not be overheard, and told me
that the drawing of this will had got
the whole boarding house upset and
torn with jealousies and suspicious
and schemlng - from parlor tc
kitchen.
She said that II was rum0red In
the house that the rich old man
was making handsome requests to
certain individuals among them
who had taken his fancy--includ.
ing a chamber maid, a waitress,
and an attractive little girl, who
lived there with her parents.
What I'm most concerned about.
she said, lis to have this will fin
ished and out of the way before my
boarding house Is ruined. Just lei
the old-man have his own way and
think you'll get along with him al
right. One thing-hes good pay ano
not stingy."
After the landlady had introduced
me and my prospective client tc
each other and left us alone, we
were seated, and he began the pro-
cess OF looking me over"
The atmosphere was pretty chilly
between us till he filled and lighted
corn-cob pipe, and motioned for
me to help myself from his allurine
cabinet OF smoking material-Henry
Clay cigars, jars Of choice pipe to-
batco; meerschaum, briar, clay, and
corn-cob pipes.
noticed that he watched me cri-
tically out Of the corner of one eye
to see which I'd select.
without hesitation I chose a
duplicate Of the cOrn-cob he was
smoking, opened a couple Of the
tobacco Jars, took sniff Of each,
made my selection Of a favOrite
blend Of Virginia hurley and
Louisiana perique, filed my pipe,
struck o Highland as my smoke
came circling around me Its pleas
ant taste In my mouth and exhil-
lratlng aroma In my nostrils, I
commented briefly-"Bully good
blend, this!"
Evidently II I had passed a rigid
legal examination my prospective
client would not have been as favor
ably impressed with my qualifica-
ton to draw q villas he was by
my behavior In the pipe and tobac-
60 examination.
THAT was one reason I had for
disliking my old lawyer" he eX-
planned, as we sat facing each other
and smoking our corn-cob pipes
HE was positively the most agra
waiting and disgusting smoker I ever
saw. Talk Of casting pearls before
swine, why, offering good cigar TO
that lawyer was the same thing.
How a civilized man could ever
get fine cigar into such a dis
reputable mess as that lawyer did Is
a mystery 10 me. You see I prefer
q pipe, but keep a box Of the best
cigars that money will buy, for spe-
cial occasions. and that lawyer al
ways managed TO get one Of them
every time he came here. He never
smoked more than a quarter Of the
cigar-and left the rest on my table,
soppy, chewed, rnangled repulsive-
looking object that bore no resem.
blance to a cigar, but looked like
what the cat brought in. I couldnt