Argosy, Vol. 111, No. 1 — page 45: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A LETTER OF DISCREDIT. city. His limited appropriation for carfare had to be considered. Moreover, it was the ene city with which he was fairly familiar. It was a theory of his that the city would give him a better chance than the village. Not only were there more openings, but he believed the large-town mind was broader, less personal, less concerned with the details of a man’s private life. Bradwell had real liking and aptitude for the law despite the very sketchy nature of the reading he had done during his frivolous year with old Warren. He determined to make an effort to enter a Buffalo office, complete his studies, and ultimately get his citizenship restored and be admitted to the bar. So he began making the rounds of the offices and scanning the classified ads. It was altogether a disillusioning and heart- breaking day. And there were many more like it to follow. His first call was on one of the largest firms in the city. Among some fifty other applicants he waited in the anteroom for nearly two hours before his turn came for an interview with a self-important manag- ing clerk. That functionary read the letter of dis- credit through with an indignant scowl, which deepened as he proceeded. He thrust the letter back to the bearer with insulting emphasis. “Are you crazy?” he sneered. ‘* Think that letter would get you anything here? I should say not! We have a hard enough time finding honest men who are competent. We don’t hire crooks.” Bradwell faced him with speechless rage while the fellow rang for an office boy. ‘Show this man out and bring in the next specimen,’’ the manager snapped when the bey appeared. Then Bradwell found his voice and his composure. ‘“* Just one moment, honest old sir,’ he said, in a voice that had an ominous sound under the banter. ‘“ You’ve got that letter just a bit wrong. It gives you a perfect right to call me an ex-convict and an ex- crook. But I’m very particular about that ‘ex’ thing. It’s about all I’ve got to be proud of at present. You implied just now 3D that I’m still a crook. I’m not; but I’m still reckless at times. I have a strong leaning to assault and battery right now, for instance. I’m going to give you a running start, though, seeing it’s your busy morning. But I’d suggest if you ever catch yourself about to meet me on the street you’d better turn right around and go the same way I’m going, only quicker. Otherwise you may find yourself shortly minus the righteous old bean.” Bradwell walked out past the grinning office boy without waiting to hear the verbal explosion that followed him as soon as the managing cleark found his voice. “The front end of a perfect day,” thought the caller, as he started for the next place on his list. There followed several cails in nd he got no further than the office boy, who took his letter in and returned with the perfunctory report that there was “no vacancy ” or that “ the place had just been filled.” Toward evening he reached another man- aging clerk, this a human one who re- ceived him politely and asked him tactful questions. ‘“T get your point of view entirely, Mr. Bradwell,” he said at last. “‘ I admire your pluck and believe in your sincerity. I think vou’ve learned your lesson ard will go straight. But I’m afraid I can’t help you here. I wish I could, but I can’t. The Jaw’s peculiar. A lot of us lawyers ought to be in jail, no doubt. Some are. Never- theless, we’re very jealous of our reputa- tions. The firm here are real he-men, and I think would help you if they could, but our clients might feel uneasy if we had some one around who’d had the bad luck to be on the wrong side of the law at one time. Especially one who insisted on every one knowing that fact.” ‘Flowers upon the victim’s brow and the ax upon his neck,” pronounced Brad- well grimly. “Not at all! Not at all!” the other protested. ‘I believe you can make good in something else, and I’d be glad to help vou 1f I can. Why not give up the law and try something less exacting about records?” : Conn clooolkk C@