By Advice of Counsel
By Arthur Train
With FrontispieceBy Arthur William Brown
Published March, 1921
CONTENTS
The Shyster
Shyster, n. [Origin obscure.] One who does business trickily; a person without professional honor: used chiefly of lawyers; as, pettifoggers and shysters.—CENTURY DICTIONARY.
When Terry McGurk hove the brick through the window of Froelich'sbutcher shop he did it casually, on general principles, and without anyidea of starting anything. He had strolled unexpectedly round the cornerfrom his dad's saloon, had seen the row going on between Froelich andthe gang of boys that after school hours used the street in front of theshop as a ball ground, and had merely seized the opportunity tovindicate his reputation as a desperado and put one over on theDutchman. The fact that he had on a red sweater was the barestcoincidence. Having observed the brick to be accurately pursuing itsproper trajectory he had ducked back round the corner again andcontinued upon his way rejoicing. He had not even noticed Tony Mathusek,who, having accidentally found himself in the midst of the mêlée, hadstarted to beat a retreat the instant of the crash, and had run plumpinto the arms of Officer Delany of the Second. Unfortunately Tony toowas wearing a red sweater.
"I've got you, you young devil!" exulted Delany. "Here's one of 'em,Froelich!"
"Dot's him! It was a feller mit a red sweater! Dot's the vun who doneit!" shrieked the butcher. "I vill make a gomblaint against him!"
"Come along, you! Quit yer kickin'!" ordered the cop, twisting Tony'sthin arm until he writhed. "You'll identify him, Froelich?"
"Sure! Didn't I see him mit my eyes? He's vun of dem rascals vot drivesall mine gustomers avay mit deir yelling and screaming. You fix it forme, Bill."
"That's all right," the officer assured him. "I'll fix him good, I will!It's the reformatory for him. Or, say, you can make a complaint formalicious mischief."
"Sure! Dot's it! Malicious mischief!" assented the not over-intelligenttradesman. "Ve'll get rid of him for good, eh?"
"Sure," assented Delany. "Come along, you!"
Tony Mathusek lifted a white face drawn with agony from his torturedarm.
"Say, mister, you got the wro