Koerner looked from one to the other of the two young men.
"That's funny, Mr. Koerner," said Marriott, "that foot's cut off."
"I wish der tamn doctors cut off der rheumatiz' der same time! Dey cut off der foot all right, but dey leave der rheumatiz'." He turned the long stem of his pipe to his lips and puffed at it, and looked at the leg as if he were taking up a problem he was working on daily.
"Well, now, Mr. Koerner," said Marriott presently, "tell me how it happened and I'll see if I can help you."
Koerner, just on the point of placing his pipe-stem between his long, loose, yellow teeth, stopped and looked intently at Marriott. Marriott saw at once from his expression that he had once more to contend with the suspicion the poor always feel when dealing with a lawyer.
"So you been Mr. Marriott, huh?" asked Koerner.
"Yes, I'm Marriott."
"Der lawyer?"
"Yes, the lawyer."
"You der one vot Miss Ward sent alreadty, aind't it?"