Charley Norton's good offices did not end when he had furnished
judge Price with a house, for Betty required of him that he
should supply that gentleman with legal business as well. When
she pointed out the necessity of this, Norton demurred. He had
no very urgent need of a lawyer, and had the need existed, Slocum
Price would not have been his choice. Betty knit her brows.

"He must have a chance; perhaps if people knew you employed him
it would give them confidence--you must realize this, Charley; it
isn't enough that he has a house--he can't wear it nor eat it!"

"And fortunately he can't drink it, either. I don't want to
discourage you, but his looks are all against him, Betty. If you
take too great an interest in his concerns I am afraid you are
going to have him permanently on your hands."

"Haven't you some little scrap of business that really doesn't
matter much, Charley? You might try him--just to please me--"
she persisted coaxingly.

"Well, there's land I'm buying--I suppose I could get him to look
up the title, I know it's all right anyhow," said Norton, after a
pause.

Thus it happened that judge Price, before he had been three days
in Raleigh, received a civil note from Mr. Norton asking him to
search the title to a certain timber tract held by one Joseph
Quaid; a communication the effect of which was out of all
proportion to the size of the fee involved. The judge,
powerfully excited, told Mahaffy he was being understood and