Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 88, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 January 1917 — Erskine's Case [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Erskine's Case

By MARY PARRISH

(Copyright, by W. G. Chapman.) •j Andrew Carr agreed to take young [Erskine into his law office because [he was the son of his old friend, lie [kept him there because he was making gdM. “Fred Hasn’t done anything extraordinary so far.” lie confided to his chum, "imt I trust. 1' him with a pretty important case the other day, and he put it through. The trouble is he. has a bee in bis bonnet. Well, I suppose you’ve got to expect it. Like all [young fellows he has fallen in love, and' wants to get married.” “Well, what’s to hinder?” asked the other, j “The trouble is the girl has just been graduated from a law school, and he wants me to take her into the office. Well, I won’t have if. I don't believe in woman lawyers. I won’t have the office all upset. If she wants to marry “him let her stay home and make a home for him. If he persists in his fool notions I suppose I’ll have to part with him.” And the old man heaved a sigh of regret. Fred Erskine had begun work on a very important case. It seemed rather strange to him that Carr had entrusted him with such a big undertaking, only stipulating that he was to be occasionally advised as to the progress of the affair; and consulted if necessary. He confided the matter to Edna Ferris, his fiancee, in whom at this stage of his career he confided everything. “I believe,” he declared, “the old genttemag is just trying me out. If I win this case, he may take me into the firm.” “Fred!” exclaimed the girl delightedly, “wouldn’t that be wonderful I Why you could work alone for years before you could get such a start!” “Yes, I know that. But you want to practice —and you know we must be partners.” ■ “Perhaps he will let me come in the office,” she said. . - Then Erskine was forced to tell the girl Mr. ’Carr’s aversion to women in the profession. “I told him,” he add-

ed, “I thought those ideas went out with the Victorian age. But you can’t budge him.” “Never mind, dear,” she said consolingly, after the manner of women, though her own heart sank within her. “We’ll bide our time. It will come.” Then Fred kissed her, and wondered if there ever was-another such a girl in the world. Edna became §o interested ip the case, she urged hifh to let her help him, and so instead of the ordinary talk of two young people very much in love with each other the evenings were given -up to points of common law and jurisprudence. The young man became more and more impressed with the clear thinking and logical brain of his counselor.One day he confided to Edna: “I can see that Carr is beginning to be a bit anxious and doubtful about this case. He has got on to that evidence Vernon has dug up. and it doesn’t look quite as clear sailing as it did.” “Well it hasn’t come into court .yet,” smiled the girl. “No, but if I should lose this—Edna, I’ve got to win! There’s too inuch at stake! It means everything to me.” A few days after this, Edna received a telephone call to come to the Benvelt hospital. Mr. Erskine had met with a slight accident, and wished to see her. Almost distracted, the girl htiiTied to the hospital. She found the young man with bandaged head, arm, and leg stretched on a cot., He had been struck by an automobile, and ■Was as he expressed “rather run out of commission for the present.” He tried to reassure, Edna by saying it was nothing serious, and he Would be out in two or three days. “Don’t tell anyone, -least of all, Carr,” he implored. “If he thought I couldn’t go on with the case, he’d get wild, and call in someone else." “But,” objected Edna, “he’ll find out.” "Not if you will help me. Just call

him on tlie ’phone,,and tell him I hav6 Suddenly been • called dpt of. town tn business about the case, and that I will wire or write Liih. If he asks who ■ you are- —‘ " i “I'll tell him-I’m a typist who has j been doing some work for you.” “Good!” smiled Erskine. “What a'splendid little'brick you. are !” | Edna did as she had agreed, not for-i getting also to account for.his absence ' , at the hotel by the "out-of-town” story . so-that they could answer any in-■ quirigs, and Erskine’s name, own foresight had been kept out of’thenewspapers. The third day after the accident, Ed-1 na found her patient Hushed with fever, and much worse instead of better, i .She did not allow him to see her alarm, but sought an interview with} the nurse. . ; “He has worried himself into this, fever about some business,” said tile nurse. “I wish you could find out, and suggest; something. There’s got to be' a slight operation on that leg, and we don't dare to-undertake it with him in this nervous condition.” The very word “operation” struck a chill,to the girl’s heart, but the life in the other room was to her so dear, she nerved herstdf to do anything to save it. ■ “I know the case so well,” she said to him as .she sat down by his cot. “Just let me go’on’ with it. I'll mail letters from all kinds of places from you to Mr. Carr. I have friends who will ses to that. Lucky your right bund is all right so you can sign them.' I’ll go on with the-hunt for that witness, and I'll come here, report progress to you, and get your advice. Now don’t worry the least bit. That case is as good as won.” - The next morning Edna hedrd in answer to her telephone inquiry that the patient was much improved. By her request he was moved to a pleasant room and every day she consulted with him as to the work done. After about five days, she found that Mr. Carr was growing restive. There was nothing for it, but •she must face the ogre. She introduced herself as MisS Town, the typist, and presented a parcel of neat papers, which she said Mr. Erskine had sent her in handwriting, requesting her to type and take them- to Mr. Carr. “Strange!” he musbd, “he stays away like this. But the next moment he became so engrossed in the papers, he said no more. ■lt soon, became a common occurrence for the girl to visit the office with a new batch of papers. One morning to her dismay, Mr. Carr asked her to type a letter to Erskine to get back as soon as possible as the case was liable to come up within a week. It seemed to him now so well prepared, he had agreed to the time. “Erskine has done some good work on this,” he chuckled. “Novy it’s up to him to make as good a figure before a jury.” -- Edna feared to tell the young man of the early docketing of the case. The operation ha'd been successful, but he" had not yet been allowed to stand on the injured leg. But her reports of Carr’s* confidence smoothed the way, and he declared he would get there. Two days before the time he limped with a cane into the office. Then he had to explain that he had met with an accident, and had not wanted to worry him so had gone on with the work till he was well enough to appear without bandages. Erskine won the case. As it involved several millions, it made a sensation in the papers, The next day Carr offered him the long-desired partnership. Erskine’s heart gave a great leap, and he put his hand into that of other man, not beibg quite able to speak. Then he pulled himself togetfibr, and said: “I’ve got to tell you—rd be a miserable sneak if I didn’t: I didn’t win that case. The big point, the one that turned the tide for us was. made by Edna Ferris!” Then he told all she had done. Carr, dumfounded, observed that he would like to lay eyes on thift girl. “You have,” answered the young man. “Not that smart little typist?” Erskine nodded. “Well she can come into this office just as soon as she wishes. We need her in our business.”

She Found the Young Man With Bandaged Head, Arm and Leg, Stretched on a Cot.