Sunday dispatch. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1845-1854, 1852-04-18
LIFE AND ADVENTURE
CHAPTER XXI.
AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Setting forth the conduct Of Mr. Covert "hen ne
found himself in a tight place.
The foi1ed lawver-the fox caught in trap
while he thought be had so nicely fixed traps
for others 1t was not agreeable picture to
lsok upon, but will portray It, as, afterwards
learnt to my satisfaction, the reality tran
spired.
Covert did not know of Martha's departure,
till early in the morning but then his suspi-
cious soul Immediately felt that something was
wrong-and something serious too. II was
never the custom for Martha to leave the house
in that way and where had she to go Wlthou'
informing him!
Sick before. and now doubly sick with alarm
he instinctively hobbed to what he supposed
the safe repository of his valuable plunder-
supposed and yet had an indefinite sort OF lear
Miserable, pale, wretch there was some
thing in the electric shock OF despair and pal
fed selfshness condensed in that trst minute
of confusion, to revenge upon you the scores
of villainies you had perpetrated, commencing
with the swindle of the poor carpenter.
That long life of lies and cheats ior gaih'
came like a flash before him.
And now, after all, to be tolled
With trembling hands, his forehead running
cbiiI sweat the fawyer commenced turning
ont everything Perhaps he had misplaced the
nrecious documents, and they were there yet.
He ransacked high and low He went overthe
search again and, dropping MS cane, TOR ne
felt an unnatural strength suddenly come into
his before weakened veins, he began syste-
matte search through the room, IN It's every
part
was there
No matter, he finished that room, and then
went over the next in the same manner. And
then the next.
At last he assembled to Martha's apartment.
Her furniture, and many of her things were
there, as formerly but it was evident that she
had made careful selection OF what sne most
needed and those articles were taken away
He called up the servant from the kitchen
She was a stupid, halfwitted girl, the ony
help he kept in the place. She could give him
no information, for she had been soundly sleep
ing when Martha departed.
Obtaining messenger, he sent down at once
to the office, for me to come up to his mouse.
Far from being at the Office, had, when put
my hat on my head the evening before, taken
an oath never voluntarily to enter us 1t u9oLt
again. NY days of studying Law, telt, might
as we'll come to an end and, since these reVe-
lahons, Ephraim Foster did not seem TO enteI-
tain the old obstinacy that way.
q After all, Jack" he had said that mornn g.
al don't know but was too fast IN pushing
you to this sort Of hte The Lora io,giVe fli0
if YOU should lose your honesty by 1t !!
/ seriously assured him that | could not an
swer for myself; and that | already felt sort
of milling disposition in the points of my tln-
gers. =.
CoveYt's messenger was instructed, in default
of me, to bring up Wigglesworth, II he could
be brought, or, last resort, the boy Ma
thaniel.
Wiqglesworth was'onshis death-bed ; and thus
it fell that my spirited young friend OF the
night before, whistling to his dog, cody clapt
his hat on his head and bade the messenger-
whom he styled my son." although that per
sonage was old enough to be his grandfather
go on before, and convey to Mr.. Covert an
assurance of his love, and that he would be
with the good man forthwith.
Nathaniel who locked the door, and carried
the key in his hand, had much to attract his at
tention on his Journey. In the first place, nc
came round to me, according to previous ar
rangement, and told me that he had been sent
for and was going.
"And it's my opinion" said Nat, that
shall take the opportunity to let the old boy into
piece of my mind"
/ cautioned him against mentioning th'
whereabouts of Martha, Just at present. VIII
respect to any further information he might say
as much as he liked.
He took his walk very leisurely, except where
there was provoking chance to have race
with Jack. There were the theatre bills u
read; these he perused with close attention
from top to bottom. There were the various
turn-outs in the street-particulary every trim
and stylish nag, attached to buggy or sulkey
the least bit of a flash description. OF all thu
world such a possession was the envy and en-
crossing ambition of the boys heart II
strained his eyes, then, as far as the horse coul
be seen.
Since he had grown a little older, Nathanie
was not so pugnacious as formerly; and thoug
he took interest enough in any personal conf1lc
that happened to fall under his attention, he n
more felt the old itching to take part in 1t him
self, unless where specially invited or Gale
upon.
refused the girls request to leave Jack out /
the front area unless his friend were admitted
he, Nathaniel, would not be persuaded to pas
the door.
He was shown into the room, and there foun
himself face to face with Covert; and standln
by the window were Ferris and the dand
Smvtthe. The feverish impatience of the law
yer could not be controlled and last upon tn
heels of the first messenger was dispatched
second with orders for those two worthless.
"Where's Engle ?" said Covert to the boy .
once.
"As near as can tell y answered Nat, "M
Engle is at his residence, or dwelling"
Wigglesworth, hear, is very bad-no hope
of living"
Nat inclined his head.
"What's been going on at the office 7" col
tinued Covert, looking sharply at the boy
That young gentleman merely repeated u
question.
"Yes; who has been there? Why is Eng
not there? Do you know any thing OF Ma
tina? Have you heard any thing I"
The excited lawyer hurried question upc
question, and sat down breathless.,
"Wen now" said Nat, composedly, 81 gue
you are fustered. Martha has left you, hash
she?"
Covert sprung from his seat again, and mac
as if he would seize Nat bodily. The dog brl
tied up, and uttered a low growl.
eth do no good to get hustered," continue
Nat, "I know Marthas gone, as we'll as yt
do And know she'll never come back agar
And know Mr.. Engle will never come ba'
again. And what do you say, if tell you tn
am going and shall never come back agaln
at would be good riddance of an idle al
impertinent young scamp" said Covert stern
although he now suppressed any more yloie
evidences Of passion, and motioned the boy
the door; for ne saw that he was going to g
nothing from him.
Nat after daintily placing the key on the
BILE retired with a mock bow, wishing u
lawyer better judgment Of peoples character
and hoping he would begin to pass pleasa
night, as soon as it came dark.
What passed in the conference between l.
three worthless who were left, never learne
That they were, to a great extent, lmpncat
together in plans of villany, there is no dout
and thus were bound to afford each other mutt
help in time OF need.
The rest of that day, and during the night
something from Covert and wondering why
did not-there was hustle and activity abe
the lawyers house. Pepperich Ferns a
Smytthe were in and out,-and IN and G
again; several times making long Journies
and down from the house to the office, and frC
the office to the house.
No.heIp was called in from outside Il
little purchases were left at the door, wht
they were taken in by Smytthe, and there "
a noise of mailing up boxes, and tumbing thur
from room to room.
At the closing of the afternoon of the d
subsequent to Nathaniel's visit, that same you
gentleman being then at leisure, happened
circulate through the very street again, and
front of Covert's house, which he passed by
the opposite side carriage was waiting
the door, and the boy naturally stopped to
what it meant.
Presently, down the steps came Mr. Cows
assisted by Ferris. He entered the carrl'
alone; and Nat saw that it was crowded W
trunks and carpet bags Before the youngs
well recovered from his astcnlshment, the {
yer up on his box, and the hack dasf
away at rapid rate Ferris deliberately asc
ded the steps, locked the door, tried it again
see if all was right, went down and tried
basement door also, stood moment on
walk in 'front.' and scanned the tightly cloi
blinds, and then walked musingly away
Nat was at his wits end to find clse to
vert's destination; for the sharp-witted yol
to know. He accosted the woman of a lii
shop, in front of the spot whence he had
served these movements. But all that
knew, notwithstanding her curiosity had a
been on the alert, was, that a big cart full
trunks and well-packed articles taken av
two hours before, was destined for the Alb;
boat.
Nat sprang off at a venture for the pier
Gion, down town, in hopes of getting furt
Information. And never had Jack been IN
perseveringy rivalled in the race than I
pleasant hour in the decline of the afternoo
The boy was too late to reach the boat.
saw the carriage, however, and promptly st
ping the driver, who had deposited his pass
ger on board the steamer some fifteen minu
before. he learned that the trunks of that
ious and wrnkle-faced man, who seemed
boring under a restless excitement, and sp
so family, and trembled so much, were mar
not only for Albany, but for distant towr
Canada And Covert, he heard asking one
the clerks of the boat, how long 1t would
cessariy take him to reach that place--the
means of getting there-and the shortest
sible time
Yes; the enemy fairly fed, and left u
oftb tba A,.J CIV II !