One morning Keith was sitting in his office cogitating1 these things. His door opened and a meek2, mild little wisp of a man sidled in. He held his hat in his hand, revealing clearly sandy hair and a narrow forehead. His eyebrows3 and lashes4 were sandy, his eyes pale blue, his mouth weak but obstinate5. On invitation he seated himself on the edge of the chair, and laid his hat carefully beside him on the floor.
"I am Dr. Jacob Jones," he said, blinking at Keith. "You have heard of me?"
"I am afraid I have not," said Keith pleasantly.
The little man sighed.
"I have held the City Hospital contract for three years," he explained, "and they owe me a lot of money. I thought you might collect some of it."
"I think if you'd put in a claim through the usual channels you'd receive your dues," advised Keith, somewhat puzzled. He had not heard that the city was refusing to pay legitimate6 claims.
"I've done that, and they've given me these," said Doctor Jones, handing Keith a bundle of papers.
Keith glanced at them.
"This is 'scrip,'" he said. "It's perfectly7 good. When the city is without current funds it issues this scrip, bearing interest at 3 per cent. a month. It's all right."
"Yes, I know," said the little man ineffectually, "but I don't want scrip."
Keith ran it over. It amounted to something like eleven thousand dollars.
"What do you want done about it?" he asked,
"I want you to collect the money for me."
But Keith, had recollected8 something.
"Just wait a minute, please," he begged, and darted9 across the hall to a friend's office, returning after a moment with a file of legislative10 reports. "I thought I'd heard something about it; here it is. The State Legislature has voted an issue of 10 per cent. bonds to take up the scrip."
"I don't understand," said Doctor Jones.
"Why, you take your scrip to the proper official and exchange it for an equal value of State bonds."
"But what good does that do me?" cried Jones excitedly. "It doesn't get me my money. They don't guarantee I can sell the bonds at par11, do they? And answer me this: isn't it just a scheme to cheat me of my interest? As I understand it, instead of 3 per cent. a month I'm to get 10 per cent. a year?"
"That's the effect," corroborated12 Keith.
"Well, I don't want bonds, I want money, as is my due."
"Wait a minute," said Keith. He read the report again slowly. "This says that holders13 of scrip _may_ exchange, for bonds; it does not say they _must_ exchange," he said finally. "If that interpretation14 is made of the law, suit and judgment15 would lie against the city. Do you want to try that?"
"Of course I want to try it!" cried Jones.
"Well, bring me your contract and vouchers16, and any other papers to do with the case, and I'll see what can be done."
"I have them right here," said Doctor Jones.
This, as Keith's first case, interested him more than its intrinsic worth warranted. It amused him to bring all his powers to bear, fighting strongly for the technical point, and finally establishing it in court. In spite of the evident intention of the Legislature that city scrip should be retired17 in favour of bonds, it was ruled that the word _may_ in place of the word _must_ practically nullified that intention. Judgment was obtained against the city for eleven thousand dollars, and the sheriff was formally instructed to sell certain water-front lots in order to satisfy that judgment. The sale was duly advertised in the papers.
Next morning, after the first insertion of this advertisement, Keith had three more callers. These were men of importance: namely, John Geary, the first postmaster and last _alcalde_ of the new city; William Hooper, and James King of William, at that time still a banker. These were grave, solid, and weighty citizens, plainly dressed, earnest, and forceful. They responded politely but formally to Keith's salute18, and seated themselves.
"You were, I understand, counsel for Doctor Jones in obtaining judgment on the hospital scrip?" inquired Geary.
"That is correct," acknowledged Keith.
"We have called to inform you of a fact that perhaps escaped your notice: namely, that these gentlemen and myself have been appointed by the Legislature as commissioners19 to manage the funded debt of the city; that, for that purpose, title of all city lands has been put in our hands."
"No, I did not know that," said Keith.
"Therefore, you see," went on Geary, "the sheriff cannot pass title to any lots that might be sold to satisfy Doctor Jones's judgment."
Keith pondered, his alert mind seizing with avidity on this new and interesting situation.
"No, I cannot quite see that," he said at last; "the actual title is in the city. It owns its property. You gentlemen do not claim to own it, as individuals. You have delegated to you the power to pass title, just as the sheriff and one or two others have that power; but you have not the _sole_ power."
"We have advice that title conveyed under this judgment will be invalid20."
"That is a matter for the courts to settle."
"The courts----" began Hooper explosively, but Geary overrode21 him.
"If all the creditors22 of the city were to adopt the course pursued by Doctor Jones, the city would soon be bankrupt of resources."
"That is true," agreed Keith.
"Then cannot I appeal to your sense of civic23 patriotism24?"
"Gentlemen," replied Keith, "you seem to forget that in this matter I am not acting25 for myself, but for a client. If it were my affair, I might feel inclined to discuss the matter with you more in detail. But I am only an agent."
"But----" interrupted Hooper again.
"That is quite true," interjected James King of William.
"Well, we shall see your client," went on Geary, "But I might state that on the side of his own best interests he would do well to go slow. There is at least a considerable doubt as to the legality of this sale. It is unlikely that people will care to bid."
After some further polite conversation they took their leave. Keith quickly discovered that the opinion held by the commissioners was shared by most of his friends. They acknowledged the brilliance26 of his legal victory, admired it heartily27, and congratulated him; but they considered that victory barren.
"Nobody will buy; you won't get two bits a lot bid," they all told him.
Little Doctor Jones came to him much depressed28. The commissioners had talked with him.
"Do you want my advice?" asked Keith, "Then do this: stick to your guns."
But little Jones was scared.
"I want my money," said he; "perhaps I'd better take those bonds after all."
"Look here," suddenly said Keith, who had been making up his mind. "I'll guarantee you the full amount in cash, within, say, two weeks, but only on this condition: that you go out now, and spread it about everywhere that you are going to stand pat. Tell 'em all you are going to push through this sale."
"How do I know----"
"Take a chance," interrupted Keith. "If at the end of two weeks I don't pay you cash, you can do what you please. Call off the sheriff's sale at the last minute; I'll pay the costs myself. Come, that's fair enough. You can't lose a cent."
"All right," agreed Jones after a minute.
"Remember: it's part of the bargain that you state everywhere that you're going to force this sale, and that you don't let anybody bluff29 you."
The affair made quite a little stir. Men like Sam Brannan, Dick Blatchford, the contractor30, and Jim Polk discussed Keith and his ability.
"Got a pretty wife, too," added Brannan. "--never heard of the fall of man."
"Well, she's going to, if the Morrell woman has her way," observed Ben Sansome dryly.
Polk stretched his long legs, and smiled his desiccated little smile.
"He's a pretty enterprising youngster--more ways than one," said he.
收听单词发音 |
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cogitating
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| v.认真思考，深思熟虑( cogitate的现在分词 ) | |
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meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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recollected
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| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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legislative
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| n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的 | |
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par
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| n.标准，票面价值，平均数量；adj.票面的，平常的，标准的 | |
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corroborated
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| v.证实，支持（某种说法、信仰、理论等）( corroborate的过去式 ) | |
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holders
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| 支持物( holder的名词复数 )； 持有者； （支票等）持有人； 支托（或握持）…之物 | |
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interpretation
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| n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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vouchers
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| n.凭证( voucher的名词复数 )；证人；证件；收据 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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commissioners
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| n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 )；长官；委员；政府部门的长官 | |
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invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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overrode
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| 越控( override的过去式 )； （以权力）否决； 优先于； 比…更重要 | |
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creditors
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| n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 ) | |
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civic
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| adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的 | |
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patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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brilliance
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| n.光辉，辉煌，壮丽，（卓越的）才华，才智 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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contractor
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| n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌 | |
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