helped out for his wife to
continue as janitoress of the tenement where they lived.--In a word
there were a hundred points where the Powers could and would reach him.
He couldn't afford it!

"Holcomb looked hopelessly at his client, and seeing the disappointment
in his face, McCarren tried to soften the effect of his decision.

"'Wait--just wait a few days, Sir. Then maybe I'll come and see you
about it again.'

"At the end of a week he came.

"'Will you take up that matter again, Mr. Holcomb?' he said, 'Try it
once more just as though'--he hesitated a moment--'just as though I
hadn't asked you before.'

"Holcomb 'took it up again' with the same papers he had prepared the
first time, and called on the Sheriff's deputy.

"'I want a receipt for your fees in this case,' he said, laying the
papers before the official and placing a fifty-cent piece on his desk.

"The man read the papers slowly, thoughtfully inserted the date and
blotted the ink. Then he signed the Sheriff's name by his own and handed
the papers to Holcomb.

"'There ain't no fees in this case,' he said, as he pushed the
fifty-cent piece toward the lawyer.

"'I think you are mistaken. There is the statutory fee on 'entering
execution.'

"'There weren't nothing done in this case.'

"'No?'

"'No.'

"'Thank you.'

"Holcomb entered the proper order and returned to his client.

"'How did you do it, Barney?' he asked.

"'How did I do it, Sir?'

"'Yes.'

"'I didn't do anything.'

"'But why was it matters went so smoothly to-day? You must have used
some influence.'

"'No, Sir,--that is--well,--I think the Leader saw me at Tuesday's
meeting, Sir.'"

* * * * *

Young Hudson was the first to break the silence which followed Norris'
recital.

"I've always said," he began, "that some of the most annoying things in
practice come from the obstinacy of clients. Now I had a case----"

"If a man wants to get blackmailed," interrupted Harlow, "there's no law
in the land to prevent or protect him."

"I guess Holcomb put on too much 'side' with that deputy," commented
Truslow. "Those fellows are easy enough to handle if you only go about
it in the right way. Now I had occasion one time to need----"

"I don't believe any Sheriff would make such a break as to call down a
deputy without inquiring about the inside facts," interrupted Patton.
"You take my word for it, Norris, there's something wrong with that
story."