Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-12-22
STATE DEMOCRAT.
THE STOLEN NOTE.
DIT A RETIRED ATTORNEY.

Wallace was An honest, high-minde
and exemplary man. His one gre,
! fault hung like dark shadow over h
|, many virtues. He meant well. an
; when he was sober he did well.
lie was q halter by trade, and b
industry and thrift had acquired sufi
cicnt to buy the house in which h
lived. He had purchased it sever,
years before, for three thousand dollar
paying one thousand down, and secul
ing the balance by mortgage to til
seller.
The mortgage note was almost dn
a. the time the circuns tsnces made m
acquainted with the affairs Of the fam
| lily. But Wallace was ready for tn
day; he had saved up the money, ther
appeared tobe no possibility of an acci
dent. was well acquainted will
Wallace, having done some coilectin.
and drawn up some legal document
for him. One day his daughter Ann,
came to my Office in great distress, de
claring that her father was ruined, anc
that they should be turned out of til,
the house in which they lived.
Perhaps not Miss Wallace said
trying to console her, aud give the af
fair, whatever it was, a brighter aspect
what has happened?'
My father she replied, had the
money opay the mortgage on thu
house in which We live, but it is al
gone now
Has he lost it 2
4 don't know; ! suppose so. Last
week he drew two thousand dollars
from the bank, and lent it to Mr.. Bryce
for ten days Z
who is Mr.. Bryce!'
lie is broker. My father got ac-
quainted with him through George
Chandler, who boarded with us, and is
Mr.. Bryce's clerk
Does Mr.. Bryce refuse to pay it,!
'lle says he has paid it,
well, what is the trouble then 2
Father says he has not paid it,
Indeed But the note will prove
that he has not paid it. OF course
you have that note
No; Mr.. Bryce has it,
'Then of course he has paid it,
4 suppose !. he has, or he could not
have had the note
what does your father say.'
lie is positive that tc hal never re-
ceived the money. The mortgage he
says must be paidito-morrow.'
Very singular. Was your father
hcsitated to use the unpleasant
word, which must have grated harshly
Oh the ear Of the devoted girl.
Mr.. Bryce says my father was got
Just right when he paid.. him, though.not
very bad
4 will see your father
'llc is coming here in few minutes;
] thought would see you first and
tell you the facts before he came
4 do not sec how Bryce could have
obtained the note unless hc'spaid the
money. Where did your father keep
it"
sic gave it to me. and l ssput it in
the secretaryfin the front room
who were in the room when you
put it in the secretary
Mr.. Bryce, George Chandler, my
father and myself
The conversation was here interrupt
ed by the entrance of Wallace. lie
looked pale ond haggard, as much
from the etfect'of anxiety as of the de-
bauch from which he was just recover
ing.
She has told you about it, l sup
pose said he, in very low tone.
She has,
| pitled him poor fellow, for two
thousand dollars was large sum for
him to accumulate in his little business.
The loss Of it would make the future
look like a desert to him. 1t would
be misfortune which one must under
go to appreciate it.
what do you think about it asked
he, very gloomily. Il know he never
paid me. | was not much in liquor at
the time. remember very we'll OF
going home as regularly as Fever did
in my life | could tell how passed
the time
'What passed between you on that
day.
well, merely stepped into his Of
fice-it was only day before ycster-
day-to tell him not to forget to have
the money for me tomorrow. lie
took me intoihis back Office, aud as set
there he said he would get the money
ready the next day. He then left me
and went into the front office, where l
heard him send George out to the
bank, to draw check for two thou
saud dollars SO | supposed he was
going to pay nue. then
what does the clerk say about itr
lie says Mr.. Bryce remarked, when
he sent him, that he was going to pay
me the money
inst So.
And when George came in, he went
to the front office again and took the
money. Then he came to me again,
but did not offer to pay me the mon
ey.'
Had you the note with you.'
No; now l remember, he said he
supposed | had not the note with me,
or he would pay it. He told me to
come in next dsy and he would have
it ready-that was yesterday. When
| came to look for the note it could
not he found Annie and l have hunt
ed the house all over