one his best he might have made
some return for all that Mr. Lincoln, who treated him like a
foster-father, was trying to do for him. But "Billy" did nothing of the
sort. He took advantage of his senior partner's absences by going on
sprees with several dissipated young men about town.

WHAT LAWYER LINCOLN DID WITH A FAT FEE

A Springfield gentleman relates the following story which shows Lawyer
Lincoln's business methods, his unwillingness to charge much for his
legal services; and his great longing to save his young partner from the
clutches of drink:

"My father," said the neighbor, "was in business, facing the square, not
far from the Court House. He had an account with a man who seemed to be
doing a good, straight business for years, but the fellow disappeared
one night, owing father about $1000. Time went on and father got no
trace of the vanished debtor. He considered the account as good as lost.

"But one day, in connection with other business, he told Mr. Lincoln he
would give him half of what he could recover of that bad debt. The tall
attorney's deep gray eyes twinkled as he said, 'One-half of nought is
nothing. I'm neither a shark nor a shyster, Mr. Man. If I should collect
it, I would accept only my regular percentage.'

"'But I mean it,' father said earnestly. 'I should consider it as good
as finding money in the street.'

"'And "the finder will be liberally rewarded," eh?' said Mr. Lincoln
with a laugh.

"'Yes,' my father replied, 'that's about the size of it; and I'm glad if
you understand it. The members of the bar here grumble because you
charge too little for your professional services, and I'm willing to do
my share toward educating you in the right direction.'

"'Well, seein' as it's you,' said Mr. Lincoln with a whimsical smile,
'considering that you're such an intimate friend, I'd do it for _twice_
as much as I'd charge a _total stranger_! Is that satisfactory?'

"'I should not be satisfied with giving you less than half the gross
amount collected--in this case,' my father insisted. 'I don't see why
you are so loath to take what is your due, Mr. Lincoln. You have a
family to support and will have to provide for the future of several
boys. They need money and are as worthy of it as any other man's wife
and sons.'

"Mr. Lincoln put out his big bony hand as if to ward off a blow,
exclaiming in a pained tone:

"'That isn't it, Mr. Man. That isn't it. I yield to no man in love to my
wif