236 



Kaie Oshorne. [^lay, 



asked the amount of his charge for the trouble given him, paid it, 

 whispered to ' Sir Harry,' who thereupon gallantly bounded away home- 

 ward with his mistress. 



The day, the hour for trial came. Farmer Osborne was present in 

 due season ; his hired hands had been subpoenaed as witnesses ; with a 

 view of swelling the costs against Osborne, Pelton had demanded a jus- 

 tice's jury, and these were all present. Bob Pelton, sure enough, 

 moved with an escort of three attorneys, full-fledged and unfledged, with 

 whom Pelton joked coarsely, and laughed loudly. Attracted by the 

 excitement of the suit, nearly the whole neighborhood had assembled ; 

 everybody seemed to be there, excepting Osborne's lawyer. What should 

 keep Mm back? The farmer was uneasy, and the whole assembly 

 seemed to sympathise with his anxiety. A group was gathered around 

 Dick Quirk, who was a public favorite among the young farmers, and 

 were listening and laughing at his quaint remarks and humorous anec- 

 dotes, told in the most twisting tones of his yankee twang. The hour 

 was passing. Mr. Osborne begged for another half hour's delay, for the 

 arrival of his counsel, who, good man ! was earnestly occupied in his 

 snug office, at twelve miles distance, recording this in his docket — ' Pel- 

 ton V. Osborne, settled, and my fees paid, $10.' 



The half hour passed, but no lawyer came. The justice calmly, but 

 firmly, told Mr. Osborne that the case must go on. The Farmer was 

 covered with confusion and vexation, but remained silent. All eyes of 

 the crowded room were on him, and pitying his position. Pelton made 

 some remark about the absent lawyer thinking it a ' gone case ' and 

 declining to appear; whereat he and his triune attendants laughed 

 immoderately. The Farmer was profoundly excited ; he wouldn't be beat 

 for five hundred dollars; he felt like 'larruping' almost everybody ; yet 

 not a word could he say, not a movement could he make. " What do 

 you say, Mr. Osborne? " kindly asked squire Ambrose, " I think we can 

 wait no longer." The Farmer had indeed nothing to say ; and while 

 undecided what answer to make, his man Quirk addressed him from 

 across the room, in a very audible whisper, " I say, kurnel, let 'em rip: 

 and as I am hired by the month to dew all kind of chores, why I'll help 

 in this business, with no extra charge." At this the people snickered, 

 and Pelton and his aids roared. Nettled by this, Quirk spoke aloud to 

 the court, "I say, squire, I spose there's no law in Illinois agin my 

 helpin' the kurnel in this caso, if he's willin' ? " " No : " said the jus- 

 tice, smiling, "any sensible person, who will observe gentlemanly deco- 

 rum, may appear as counsel in my court." "There, now, kurnel, you 

 see I'm admitted to this bar; and if I don't take care of your side, I'll 



