UNCLE SAW Then also among the unending roll call of things that might be done in the next century in perpetuation of the "old-fashioned virtues." There was a time, when houses were few and far, that a neighbor treated you fair, talked straight, and did the chores for you if you got caught away from the ranch. If you went away with his wife, he either bored you with his buffalo gun or celebrated the event with a bottle of home-brewed liquor or Neighbor Jones's gal, just depending upon what value he placed upon his departed spouse. And if you took his horse, trouble really flocked your way, just as you knew it would. The countryside ganged up with him and strung you up to the nearest tree. If it was droopy and let your toes touch, so much the worse for you. In 1847, mind you, and for a good many years thereafter, a man knew where he stood. But in the year 1947, make a move or just stand looking too long and you end up with empty pockets and doubting the integrity of the whole human race. What to do about it? Less electric razors and more razor straps for kids under 21. More folks picking jobs which really do something useful, like raising 60-bushel crops and building homes that will not be a disgrace to God and man in three years. By J. M. Smith Poker-faced old Uncle Saw let those colorless eyes of his roam over me and Ingrid when I put the bee on him for a little advice when we called at his firm's office in Frisco. "I got G.I. educational benefits," I told him. "What should I go in for?" Actually I wanted him to tell me to follow in his footsteps. Being wealthy, he was a sort of family hero around our house in Morgan, the same place where he was born 59 years ago. Uncle Saw has been for much of his life a successful man in the courtroom, and since he has always won most of his cases by spectacularly creating a reasonable doubt in the minds of countless Utah and California juries, he is highly respected by people who deal in the law and make a living by it or against it in one way and another. "We are just interested in finding out what Andy should major in," Ingrid pointed out with wifely directness. "It seems important." Uncle eased himself into an even more carelessly easy position in the big leather chair. It was a rich red leather, well padded, with the chair itself nicely swivelled and equipped with springs which squeaked a bit now and then. He said, "You want it cold. But it's not that simple." But Uncle Saw liked a man's woman, like Ingrid, and treated even weak sisters in man-to-man style, let them wilt when they wanted. "I am in what you might call the judicial branch of government," he said. "Half of the people in this field, including our more faithful clients, make money by dealing in the law. The rest make a living by . . . ah . . . going along. "Naturally, one is not to turn cases away. It is not entirely a matter of the scales of justice." His peculiar, light-colored eyes included both of us in a sweeping glance that seemed to carry his blessing with it. Uncle Saw liked young people particularly. "Clients are not like time, flowing in forever. Refusals to take cases occur chiefly in stories. Actually we take them as they come. Certain other . . . ah . . . fortunate events help greatly, like the increasing divorce rate. Personally I value as a business stimulant a large-scale grand jury investigation, with numerous defendants indicted, such as the one you had in your locality during the war. "You note that the persons accused in such matters usually are exonerated after a good scare. Counsel are entitled to a substantial fee under those conditions." Ingrid was trying to speak. "But they are either definitely guilty or not guilty, aren't they?" Saw smiled just a little, as if actually he was pulling a face. He was smooth but not a smiler usually. "I am explaining law vocationally," he answered, "as a way of putting a bit by for the well known rainy day. "From a vocational viewpoint, let us look at the machinery of justice as a layer cake off which many people live and at which they work: Bottom layer, the police; second layer, the county attorney, who must bring the felony complaints; third layer the district attorney; fourth and fifth layers, the attorneys and the judges. "So much nourishment is sorted out at the various layers that when a case comes through to us, we must make the most of it. You know, spread the benefits and trust they will be extensive." "For sure I don't go for being a cop," I said. "Since the profits motive is absent in those lower layers, personnel being paid by salary, it is natural for the pressure of the work, which I concede is arduous if completely fulfilled, even dangerous, to be lessened as much as possible." Uncle Saw attempted a joke. "The state prosecutor brings it on himself though: one more nasty job." He rubbed his hands together and giggled. "He usually acts very threatening for a while. "I have heard it mentioned also that the officers, knowing the exterior facts but not the legalities, at times resolve to settle affairs even before booking takes place." He giggled again, a thing unusual in him, then added chidingly, "The rascals." A deeper shade of rose more apparent in her cheeks than customary, Ingrid started to object. "Andy told me you were very nice . . . but . . . "But it isn't honest, not quite," Ingrid stammered while I began to wish I had not dropped in on him. This was a new side of mother's eldest brother. "You two are just children wondering about life, and I am old and know about life ... in fact, have been very successful at it. These big mistakes involving dishonesty (nasty word) we seldom touch." He paused, then went on. "Like some of our public officials, whom you and I elected for honest administration . . ." He broke off for a moment. "Like this May affair. And I believe you have had mayor trouble at times . . . But it is very hard to decide right and wrong, even in such relatively minor matters as traffic offenses, and that is why we have traffic court judges." I stood up, as did Ingrid. "Thanks," I said, quite abruptly. "You have straightened me out. I know what I am going to try to be." Uncle also stood up. "Good," he said, his voice taking on what seemed to be a certain weariness. "We old duffers have done all we can to make a mess of things. Now you youngsters go ahead and repair the damage." He came over to us and gave Ingrid a fatherly kiss on the cheek. "You have not only a beautiful woman here, Andy," he said, "but one with a fine, strong outlook. And he shook me by the hand as he showed us out. "For a while I thought your uncle was an old lizard," Ingrid said when we were down on the street. "Maybe he is," said I, "but if he is, you will have to help me from being another one." "Why, have you decided on something?" She spoke quickly. "You bet. I am going to take up law and the way I'll do it we may starve." Page 24 Photo by Benedict Site of Gold Spike GOLD SPIKE