Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/169

Rh "I was afraid I was going to have a whole lot of trouble over that case."

"I did the best I could," answered the young lawyer. "I hadn't much time." Then he told of what had been accomplished. The other lawyer approved and praised him for the work. A few days later the judge rendered his decision, and it was in McKinley's favor. His fee was of good size, and his good work at such short notice added greatly to his laurels as a rising lawyer.

On one occasion the young advocate showed his sterling honesty in a way that brought to him the praise of one of his bitterest legal opponents.

It was a case of one large manufacturer against another, and the amount involved was several thousand dollars. The case was set for a Tuesday, and McKinley was all ready to go on, when he heard that the other side wanted a delay.

"We can't delay unless there is a good reason for it," said McKinley, and then learned that a clerk hired by the opposite counsel had lost several important documents.