Whether there was something in Mr. Chisholm’s manner—there certainly was nothing in his words—that convinced the lawyer that haste was desirable, I don’t know; but he got up with alacrity, went to his books, and began writing, while the rest of us disposed of ourselves in various attitudes about the room. The rest of the men went on with their conversation where our entrance had interrupted it,—it was something that afforded them a great deal of merriment,—and now and then the lawyer took part in it, leaving his work and coming over to where the men were sitting to make his remarks carry weight. Mr. Chisholm watched this for a long time and at last boiled over.
“See here, Mr. Lawyer,” said he, and I knew by the way he spoke the words that his patience was all exhausted; “I would thank you to attend to our business first.”
The lawyer was evidently a man who was not in the habit of being addressed in this way. He took a good look at Mr. Chisholm, at his revolvers, then ran his eye over the rest of us, and choking down something that appeared to be rising in his throat, he resumed his writing. After that there was no trouble. The men ceased their conversation, and the lawyer went on with his writing to such good purpose that in fifteen minutes the document was done.
“Now, who is this boy’s guardian?” asked the lawyer.
“He hasn’t got any that I know of,” said Mr. Chisholm.
“How old are you?” he added, turning to Bob.
“Sixteen,” was the reply.
“Then you must have a guardian,” said the lawyer. “Hold on, now,” he continued, when he saw Mr. Chisholm’s eye begin to flash and his hand to reach toward his pistol. “This guardian is a man who can exercise much or little control over this property. He can say you shall or you shall not spend your money for such particular things; but all the while the boy can go on and do as he pleases. It does not amount to anything.”
“Is that paper all ready for his signature?” asked Mr. Chisholm.
“It is all ready for the signature of his guardian,” said the lawyer. “But I tell you it won’t amount to anything so long as he has no one on it to act as his guardian. Why don’t you sign it, sir? You seem to be on good terms with him.”