_Court of Common_
vs. } _Pleas._
THE BLANK AND DASH } _May Term, 1883._
AVENUES PASSENGER } _No_. ----
RAILWAY CO. }

_To the Prothonotary of the said Court_:

Issue summons in case returnable the first
Monday in May, 1883.

TARBELL,
pro plff.

It was a _precipe_ for a writ.

"Alexander!" said Mrs. Tarbell, in an expressive voice, regardless of
the office-boy.

"Yes?" said Mr. Juddson. The referee had refused to admit some of his
testimony.

"Alexander, I have a client," said Mrs. Tarbell.

"Do you tell me so?" replied Mr. Juddson absently, as he redisarranged
the papers upon his table. "I hope--Bless me, where _is_ that--? Mrs.
Tarbell, have you seen anything of an envelope?--John, what became of
the papers in Muggins and Bylow? I gave them to you."

Mrs. Tarbell, deeply mortified, resumed her occupation, and completed
the _precipe_ by writing the words, "Tarbell, pro plff."

Mr. Juddson's papers were found for him, under his nose, and he was
beginning to say that he was going out to lunch, when the enormity of
his conduct made itself apparent to him.

"By George!" he said, stopping short, "you told me you had a client at
last, eh, Mrs. Tarbell?"

"Yes," said Mrs. Tarbell coldly.

"Why,--bless my soul! It's your first client, is it not? And what kind
of a case has your ewe-lamb brought you? Come, tell me about it. I did
not properly appreciate the communication." And he went over to Mrs.
Tarbell's desk, upon which he sat himself down in a position which Mrs.
Tarbell had formerly considered very undignified; but now she could not
help feeling that it was really a legal attitude.

She looked up with a smile, and then, though with a little shame,
displayed the _precipe_.

"Well, that's good," said Mr. Juddson. "Accident case, I suppose. What
is it? Death, and damages for the widow?--for I see there are no
children,--or was the plaintiff herself the victim of the accident? Your
sex has finally decided to stand by you, it seems."

"I shan't send out the writ just yet," said Mrs. Tarbell, blushing. "I
was--wanted to see how the _precipe_ would look. I must see the
plaintiff again, I think, before I advise her definitely to sue."

"Hasn't she a case?"

"Yes--but--"

"What nonsense!" cried Juddson. "Come, my dear, don't be a goose, and
don't lose a return-day. Otherwise, I shall buy you a sewing-machine."

"Aren't you pleased, Alexander?" said Mrs.