1921-12-17 — Page 12

12.

CHRISTMAS STORY;

(Continued from Page 10.)

took a shot at this plaintiff, and now aimed a chop at that defendant, now made a heavy charge at an estate in Chancery, and now had some light skirmishing among an irregular body of small debtors, just as the occasion served, and the enemy happened to present himself. The Gazette was an important and profitable feature in some of their fields, as in fields of greater renown; and in most of the actions wherein they showed their generalship, it was afterwards observ. ed by the combatants that they had had great difficulty in making each other out, or in knowing with any degree of distinctness what they were about, in consequence of the vast amount of smoke by which they were surrounded.

from these premises that the name and the box were both his, and that arden, E. the affame of Michael gaire, were

That's all," sald; Snitchey turning up the last paper. Really there's no other resource. - No other resource

All lost, spent, wasted, pawned, borrowed, and sold, eh?" said the cilent, looking up.

*** ** All*"' returned Mr. Snitch

THE CHINA MAIL.

*What do you advise 75

(other pinch of snuj

mow, the fact,

Why, so do I, perhaps," the client quietly What Are you men of the wor you never hear of a woma her mind 2

Namping. I say " repented Saltcher. Some few years of nursing by salf Land: Cranes would bring, it round.

But to enable us to make terms, and rob hold terms, and you to keep terms, you must go away, you must live abroad. As to starvation, we could. insure you some hundreds a year to starve upon, even in the beginning I dare any, Mr. Wardenclude Hundreds såld the client.And

"That, retorted Mr. Spitchey, putting the papers slowly back into the cast-iron box, there is no doubt about. No doubt about” he re peated to himself, as he thoughtfully" pursued his occupation..

Mr. Craggs; using that Imaginative plural as if in disparagement of an objectionable pair of pantaloons or other articles not possessed of a slogu tar number I don't see what you want with your Snitcheys, for my part, You trust a great deal too much to your Snitcheys, I think, and I hope you may never find my words come true. While Mrs. Snitchey would observe to Mr. Snitchey of Craggs, "that if ever he was led away by

Nothing else to be done, you I have spent thousands !" man, he was led away by that man, and that if ever she read a double say hi, yay purpose in a mortal eye, she read that Nothing at all." purpose in Cragg's eye" N Notwith-The client bit his nails, and pon standing this, however, they were all dered again. very good friends in general; and Mrs. Snitchey and Mrs. Craggs main tained a close band of alliance against "the office," which they both consider ed the blue chamber, and common enemy, full of dangerous (because unknown) machinations,

In this office, nevertheless, Snitch, The offices of Messrs. Snitchey and ey and Craggs made had for their Craggs stood convenient, with an several hives. Here, songs, they both would linger, of a fine alus, at open door down two steps, in the market-place; so that the window of their councilchamber any angry farmer inclining towards overlooking the old battle round, hot water, might tumble into it at and wonder (but that was generally ense. Their special council-chamber at assize time, when much business and hail of conference was an old had made them sentimental) at the back room upstairs, with a lg dark folly of mankind, who couldn't ceiling which seemed to be knitting always be at peace with one another Ha brows gloomily in the considera and go to law comfortably. Here, tion of tangled points of law. It was days, and weeks, and mainths, and furnished with some high-backed years, passed over them; their calen. leathern chairs, garnished with great dar, the gradually diminishing, num goggle-eyed brass nails; of which, every here and there, two or three had fallen out-or had been picked out, perhaps, by the wandering thumbs and forefingers of bewilder ed clients. There was a framed print of a great judge in it, every .curl in whose dreadful wig had made a man's hair stand on end, Bales of papers

ber of brass nails in the leathern chairs, and the increasing bulk of papers on the tables. Here, nearly three years flight had thinned the one and swelled the other, since the breakfast. in the orchard; when they sat together in conulrations at night.

And I am not even personally safe in England? You hold to that, do you ?"

anging

There certainly have been actions for breach, sald Mr. Salichey, brought against both splasters and widows, but in the majority of cases

Casos !'" interposed the client im- patiently. Don't talk to me of cases, The general precedent is in a mach larger volume than any of your law books. Besides, do you think I have lived six weeks in the doctore house

dots

TURDAY DEU

evidently

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slous and dis, He can't do it, sir. She

Alfred

2:17

ret); he could be full of fire, and purpose A dangerous sort of Jibertine,” thought the shrewd, Ikwe - 16 ssem to catch the apark he wants, from a young lady's, ayon."

.. Now, observe, Saltcher if he con tinued, rising and taking him by the

Deshe 2 returned the client.button, and Craggs, taking him "Mi: Craggs, sherdotes on him, by the button also, and placing one eir persisted Snitchey

partner on either side of hun, so that * 1 didnt live six weeks, some few neither might evade him, “I don't months ago, in the doctor's house for ask you for any advice. You are nothing and I doubted that soon right to keep quite aloof from all observed the client." She would parties in such a matter, which ja have doted on him, if her sister could not one, in which grave men like you have brought it about; but I watched could interfere, on any side. I am then Marion avoided his name, briefly going to review, in ball a avoided the subject; shrank from the dozen words, my position and inten- least allusion to it, with evident tion, and then I shall leave it to you The lawyer very likely knew As

distress.

to do the best for me, la money, met- In no part of the United Kingman; at any rate, his dry, shrewd,

"Why should she. Mr. Craggs, you ters, that you can seeing that, if I' dom, of Great Britain and Ireland," whimsical manner had a favourable

know? Why should she, sirin run away with the doctor's beautifar influence on the client's moody state,

quired Snitchey.

das daughter (as hope to do, and to replied Mr. Snitchey,

I don't know why she should, become another man under ber and disposed him to be more free and for nothing mere prodigal son with no father to go back to, no swine to unreserved. Or, perhaps the client I think, Bir observed Mr. Snit though there are many likely rea bright influence); it will be, for the Keep, it no husks to share with knew his man, and had eliciach chey, gravely addressing himself to aby said the client, umiling at the moment, more chargeable than ton- them? Eb pursued the client, rock encouragement as he had received, his partner, that of all the scrapes trention and perplexity expressed in ning away alone. But I shall soon nig one leg over the other, and to render some purpose he was about Mr. Warden's horses have brought Mr. Saitchey of abining eye, and at make all that up in an altered Ble searching the ground with his eyes to disclose the more defene ble in him into at one time and author his cautious way of carrying on the I think it will be better not to

Mr. Saitchey coughed, as if to appearance. Gradually raising his and they have been pretty numerous conversation, and asking himself bear this, Mr. Craggs 2 deprecate the being supposed to par-head, he sat looking at his love and pretty expensive nope know informed upon the subject; que Saitchey, looking at him across the the worst scrape may turn out to be when she made the engagement if "I think not," said Craggs-Both ticipate in any figurative Illustration able adviser with a smile, which better than himself, and you, and know she does Shed very young client.

After all, he said,," my iron- if he talks in this way; his having it may be called one : I am not even listening attentively. of a legal position. Mr. Cragge, as presently broke into a laugh.

been ever left by one of them at the sure of that and has repented of it. Well! You needn't hear it," re- if to express that it was a partner- ship view of the subject, also headed friend

Mr. Snitchey pointed out his doctor's garden wall with three perhaps. Perhaps it seems a toppish plied their client. "I'll mention it, cocted.

Ruined at thirty" said the client.partner, Sell and excuse me broken ribs, a snapped collar-bone thing to say, but upon my soul however, I don't mean to as the

Craggs:**

and the Lord knows how many don't mean it in that light-she may doctor's consent, because he wouldn't "I beg Mr. Craggs's pardon," said bruises. We didn't think an much have fallen in love with me, as I have give it me. But I mean to do the Haph 1" "No ruined, Mr. Warden," return. el Snitchey Not so had as that, the client: "After all my fren of it at the time when we knew he fallen in love with her doctor no wrong or harm, because You have done a good deal towards headed friends" he leaned forward was going on well under the doctor's He, he! Mr. Alfred, her old (besides there being nothing serious it, I must say, but you are not in his chair, and dropped his voice a hands and roof: but it locks bad playfellow too, you remember, Mr. in such trifles, as he says) I hope to little-"you don't know half my ruin now, sir. Bad? It looks very bad, Craggs, said Snitchey, with a disrescue his child, my Marion, from rained. A little nursing~~"

Doctor leddler too-our client, Mr. concerted laugh, knew her almost, what I see I know she dreads, and

w from a baby!!

"

yet,"

"A little devil," said the client.

Mr. Snitchey stopped and stared Craggs" Mr. Craggs," said Snitchey, "will you hide me with a pinch of snuff? at him. Mr. Craggs also stared.

"I am not only deep in debt," said Thank you, sir.'t `

the client, "but I am deep in

Astheimperturbable lawyer applied to his nose, with great apparent relish and a perfect absorixion of bis

attention in the proceeding, the client gradually broke into a smile, and, loking up, said---

Mr. Alfred Heathfield too a sort of client, Mr--Snitchey," said Craggs, Mr. Michael Warden too, a kind of client," said the careless visitor

and no bad one either, having played the fool for ten or twelve years. However, Mr. Michael Warden

'Not in love!" cried Snitchey, "Yes!" said the client, falling buck" in his chair, and surveying the firm with his hands in bis pockets, "Deep "And not with an heiress, sir sald Snitchey..

In love."

"Not with an heiress." "Nor a rich lady? ** "Nor a rich lady that I know of except in beauty and merit.”

Not alone; but with a man of thirty, or about that time of life, filled the dusty closets, negligently dressed, and somewhair shelves, and tables; and round the haggard in the face, but well-made. wainscot there were tiers of boxes, well-attired, and well-looking; who padincked and fireproof, with people sat in the arm-chair of state, with names printed outside, which auxi- one hand in his breast, and the other

"You talk of nursing. How long aus visitors felt themselves, by a in his dishevelled hair, pondering cruel enchantment, obliged to spell moodily. Messrs. Snitchey and (nursing?"

"How long nursing?" repeated backwards and forwards, and to Cragge sat opposite each other at s make anagrams of, while they sat,, neighbouring desk. One of the fire.Snitchey, dusting the snuff, from his seeming to listen to Snitchey and 4-proof boxes, unpadlocked and open-fingers and making a slow calculation "For your involved Craggs, without comprehending one ed, was upon it; a part of its contents in his mind word of what they said.

lay strewn upon the table, and the estate, sir? In good hand"? S. and Snitchey and Craggs had each, in rest was then in course of passing C's, say? Six or seven years,” private life as in professional through the hands of Mr. Snitchey;To starve for six or seven years?""

"It's not one of Doctor Jeddler's existence, ar partner of his own, who brought it to the candle, docu.said the client, with a fretful laugh, Snitchey and Craggs were the best ment by document; inoked at. every and an impatient change of his daughters?" said Snitchey, suddenly squaring his elbows on his knees, friends in the world, and had a real paper singly, as he produced it, position.

"To starve for six or seven years, and advancing his face at least a confidence in one another: but Mrs. shook his head, and handed it to Mr.

*** would | yard.** Snitchey, by a dispensation not Craggs; who looked it over also, Mr. Warden," said Snitchey, uncommon in the affairs of life, was shook his head, and laid it down, be very uncommon indeed You" Yes!" returned the client.-

"Not his younger daughter?" said nn principle suspicious of Mr. Sometimes, they would stop, and might get another estate by showing Crages, and Mrs. Craggs, was on shaking their heads.in concert, look yourself the while. But we don't Snitchey,

"Yes!" returned the client. principle suspicious of Mr. Snitchey, towards the abstracted client. And think you could do it-speaking for

"Mr Craggs," said Snitchey, much "Your Snitcheys indeed," the latter the name on the box being Michael and Craggs-and, consequently,

relieved, will you oblige me with lady would observe, sometimes to Warden, Esquire, we may conclude don't advise it.”.

“A single lady, I trust?" said Mr. Snitchey, with great expression.

"Certainly."

"Which makes it the more probable, that ( she may be fired of his idea, calmly pursued the client," and not indisposed to ex change it for the newer one of another lover, who presents himself for is presented by his horse) under

said

contemplates with misery, that is, the in the world is true, it is true that | return of this old lover. If anything he dreads his return. Nobody is injured so far I am so harried and worried here, just now that I lead the life of a flying-ngh. I skulk about in the dark, I am shut out of my own

has sown his wild oats now there's romantic circumstances, has the not house, and warned off my dwa their crop, in that box; and he means unfavorable reputation with a grounds; but that house and those to repent and be wise. And in proof country girl of having lived grounds, and many an acre besides.

of it, Mr. Michel Warden means, if thoughtlessly and gally, without will come back to me one day, as

he can, to marry Marion, the doctor's lovely daughter, and to carry her, away with him."

Really, Mr. Craggs?" Snitchey

began:

doing much harm to anybody; and you knew and say, and Marion will who, for his youth and figure, and so probably be richer on your show forth this may seem fuppish again, ing, who are never sanguine-tex but upon my soul Idon't mean it in years hence as my wife, than as the wife of Alfred Heathfield, whose that light might perhaps pass Really, Mr. Snitchey, and Mr. master in a crowd with Mr. Alfred. return she dreads (remember that), and in whom, or in any man, me Crassa, partners both, said the client, himself."

There was no gainsaying the last passion is not surpassed, Who is interrupting him, "you know your duty to your clients, and you know clause, certainly; and Mr. Saitchey, injured yet? It is a fair case through well enough, I am sure, that it is no glancing at him, thought so. There out. My right is as good as his, if part of it to interfere in a mere love was something naturally graceful she decide in my favour, and I will affair, which I am ebliged to confideded pleasant in the very carelesstiess try my right by her alone. You will to you. I am not going to carry, the of his air. It seemed to suggest, of like to know no more after this, and I young lady off, without her own his comely face and well-knit figure, will tell you no more. Now you know consent. There's nothing illegal in that they might be greatly better ity purpose and wants, When must.

I leave here?"! it 1 never was Mr. Heathfield's he chose; and that, once roused and

(Continued on page 14.) bosom friend. I violate no confidence | made earnest (but he never had been

XMAS GIFTS AND BOOKS FOR THE CHILDREN.

BUBBLE

BOOKS.

NURSERY RHYMES.

verses

A Fairy Story, coloured pictures, and three Columbia records in each Book.

No, -THE BUBBLE BOOK

"Tem, Tom, the Piper's Son" with Mary's Lamb" and "Jack and Jill."

No.. 2 THE SECOND BUBBLE

A real Mother Goose Bubble...

"Simple Simon," "Little Bo-Peep," and "Old King Cole and His-Fiddlers Three"..

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Cock-doedle Dob

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This Bobble Book is most appropriat

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Boy's trip to Ineos fand. The childre

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LITTLE SONGS OF LONG AGO.

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