Sunday dispatch. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1845-1854, 1852-04-04
new YORE1, SUNDAY MORNING, APRII d lS52.

salute him with such reception that he
won't forget u.s. years to come "
| told lnez that | might require her to
make her words good and that if 30, would
give her due warning She told me not to be
afraid of calling in her assistance; and that
she only wanted a good chance to take lit
tie revenge on Covert for his intentions to-
ward her spare cash.
1t seemed that it was somewhat as ] sus-
pected when Inez came down to the Office,
many months before. The shrewd Spaniard,
from some cause or other, had her suspi-
cious aroused, waited few weeks before
purchasing the stock which Covert recon-
mended, and in which Ferris was interested,
and then few weeks longer; and then had
the satisfaction to read in the papers how the
whole edi6oe, stock and all, of Mr.. Peppe-
rich Ferris's wonderful company had tumbl-
ed to the ground--and how luckily her dol
lars just escaped
You may be sure, the mettlesome Spaniard
had fire enough in her veins to resent
the deliberate design of cheating her, al
most as much as if it had been successfully
accomplished For that it was deliberate
design, there could be no dispute.
Even Mr.. J. Fillmore Smytthe came in for
his share of the high strung girls displea-
sure. And, at his next visit. Inez saluted
him with such 8 voluble and fiery tongue,
that this genteel and taciturn individual was
fain to put his fingers in his ears and beat a
retreat in double quick time. That he had
received his walking papers, however, was
work Of special grace to me by NO means
mourned his absence from Inez's rooms when
| visited there; considering in such cases
that two made a much pleasanter party than
three.
When we returned to New York, bespoke
the services of Tom Peterson, too; for had
scheme in my head. Tom promised to do
anything for me, from tossing Covert out of
his own window to holding the light while l
wrote him a challenge.
When Martha, that night, under my
charge, according to the request made in her
note, left Coverts house-he was confined
to his room yet, fortunately felt that it
would perhaps be better for her to 60 back
no more. She was now free from the
wretch's premises, and why should she place
herselfin his power again'
l proposed this, in full family council and
it was considered favorably, until Martha
herself put the negative on it. She said that
it was her intention to leave, but not to-
night She knew, too, that she would be
under the necessity of leaving clandestinely;
for Covert had all the restlessness and sus-
picion of guilty mind. An additional reason
was that there were sundry articles, and
some important documents which she must
take away with her when she did go. :
For Couert had not all the cunning of the
game on his side Wigglesworth and the
young Quakeress, during the three days past,
had made some master moves; and, deep as
I knew the lawyer to be, it seemed, when l
heard all, that they were likely to counter
mine him. Above all, they had 4hA advant-
age of working unknown to him. Little did
the scamp suspect chat, all the while he was
tied there to his bedside, the girl whom he
looked upon as his helpless victim, and whom
the disgusting brute intended as his victim
ia double sense, was quietly, with the in
valuable help Of his clerk, who knew more
about his affairs than any other person-Was
quietly, | say, digging tho very ground from
under his feet.
1t had been the lawyers policy, by slow
degrees to get the property which was left
by Martha's father, to be made use of as di-
rected in his will this property it was Co
vert's design, steadily pursued, year after
year, to get transformed into paper repre-
sentatives, such as government or state
bonds, certificates of deposite, and so forth.
Indeed, it was the persevering and mysteri
Gus course Of this proceeding that aroused
Wigglesworth's first suspicious; he knew
that the property belonged to Martha, that
it was st first we'll and reliably invested;
and that, in being sold, it was frequently
sacrificed, and loss suffered on the second
purchase, without any gain. AS to Martha,
she was ignorant of business, and without
knowing why or wherefore, signed almost
every paper that Covert presented to her.
The best and most important move of all,
was, that Wigglesworth had made use of his
knowledge of CoverFs affairs, to give Martha
such instructions and such description of
the 5hs 81 HSa rgae es and
thew were undeniably hers-that she had
found out where the lawyer kept them in his
house, and was prepared to pounee upon
and take possession of them, when she got
good opportunity, and bear them off. A
woman and lawyers clerk, have they not
some sharpness
All these things being discussed in the
family council, it was determined that there
| was no time to be lost. Covert might dis
cover the plans that were making headWay
against his vile Vaccinations, and use his
| lawyer tricks in such a way as to stop us all
off We decided therefore that Martha should
leave his house, for good, the next night
Violet and Ephraim would willingly have
had her take up her abode with them;
but it was thought best, instead, to accept
the offer of Inez, which l mentioned, and
/ whom I promised to notify the next day
These points were conned over and decided
| in short metre for Martha was to be home
again at nine O'Clock. WhenI waited upon
| her back, told her l hoped she would not
| he discouraged, nor fail me, at the appoint
ed time, which we purposely put at midnight
for greater security. The stout hearted girl
assured me that if she were living it should
be as we had planned it out, unless our plans
| failed by means other than any that depend
ed on her.
NV sleep was disturbed that night by Mar
tha's fortunes !; and half-dreamed of the
homicide in which our two different parents
had played so sad part. forgot to say
that Martha herself had not yet learned Of
NV being the son of her fathers victim.
had charged Ephraim and Violet to be care
full of mentioning this to her. Wigglesworth
knew would not.
Among the first things | attended to, next
forenoon, were, the dispatching Of note to
Inez by a trusty hand, and then calling on
Tom Peterson, whose help l engaged in a
way that We shall understand by and by.
| asked Nathaniel if l could have his
assistance that evening carrying off prin-
cess from'a tormenting monster. The young
gentleman informed me that whatever man
dared he would dare. ] told him l was
serious. As for him, he but loved too well
any thing in the shape of an adventure,
especially if it was to be on my responsible
ity.
/ would have felt some qualms about steal
ing Martha away in this manner, if hadn't
been SO sure that subtlety must be opposed
to subtlety and that, if Covert had any
thing like open and premature defiance he
would in all likelihood outWit US all. But
once safely away, Martha in possession Of
the aforc. mentioned valuable papers and
bonds, felt that We could make stout
fight against him Besides, l had the array
of documents, and an index of scores more
to prove, if the event needed, the thorough
ness and veraeity of my narration. These
Wigglesworth had given me, the evening oi
our memorable interview.
Poor old man Istepped up moment tC
see him. He lay on his narrow bed, without
uttering word, and looking wan, and vast
cd to skeleton, but still with an expression
of peace in his countenance. bid him {
/, mental farewell, for 1 doubted whether