I did botch it. A craftsman such as I was could not be balked.

I left Jim at home and hurried down to Miss Tescheron's office,
reaching there about two o'clock. I sent in my card by the boy, and it
was returned, with the information that Miss Tescheron was too busy to
see me.

I took the card and wrote on it:

"To the very last day of your life you will regret this act of folly.
I have great good news for you. HOPKINS."

The boy did not return for ten minutes. I knew then that my message
was working its leaven, and in time the moment of victory would
arrive. At the end of ten minutes the boy returned and requested
that I follow him into Miss Tescheron's office. There I found that
charming young lady struggling to maintain an air of disinterested
dignity behind a desk which I could not approach within three feet,
because a railing had been planted as an outpost to guard against
the bore emergency. But three feet was near enough for me that day.
I could have done the work anywhere within range of my voice or
pen, it was such an easy matter; at least, I thought so when I
gained admission to the judge who was to be moved by my plea in
behalf of the defendant, Hosley.

As I drew near, making my most dignified bow, I beheld the form of
a gray-haired man, who was advancing in years beyond the middle
period of life. He was seated near Miss Tescheron, whom I now faced
for the first time. I knew he must be John MacDonald, the famous
lawyer. Miss Tescheron, I imagined, had called him in to be a
witness to all I might have to say. Two judges, therefore, were to
hear the presentation I was about to make in behalf of the outcast.
In my capacity as middleman, I had always relied on the pen; but it
was up to me now to make good the claims of my client with a verbal
argument before two of the most discriminating lawyers.

I relied more, however, on the woman's heart.

CHAPTER XXIII

How fortunate I was in my judges or my jury of two--a fond woman
and a plain man of common-sense! As our lives have been so bound
with theirs, I must reveal the man more fully here.

Mr. MacDonald was widely known among that class of corporations
that sought knowledge of the law and not opinions as to how it
might be corrupted. They came to him to carry their cases through
the courts, and not through the legislatures via the lobby.
Therefore, he was not what is commonly called a corporation lawyer.
He nev