The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-03-04
THE STOLEN NOTE.
by A RETIRED ATTORNEY.


Except that he INDUCED loo freely in the
use of the intoxicating cup, John Wallace
was an honest, high minded and exemplary
man. His one great fault hung like dark
shadow over his many virtues. He mean.
well, and when he was sober did we'll.
He was halter by trade, and by industry
and thrift had acquired money sufficien, 10
buy The house in which he lived. He had
purchased II several years before for three
thousand down, and securing the balance by
mortgage to the seller.
The mortgage-note was almost due al the
time the circumstance made me acquainted
with the affairs of the family. But Wallace
was ready for the day, he had saved up the
money; there seemed no possibility of an
| accident.
was we'll acquainted with Wallace, hav.
| ing done some collecting, and drawn up
| some legal documents for him.
One day his daughter Annie came 10 my
office in great distress, declaring that her
father was ruined, and that they should be
turned out of the house in which they lived.
"Perhaps, not, Miss Wallace, said, try
ing TO console her, and give The affair, what
ever il was, a brighter aspect"
"What has happened P
"My father" she replied, chad all The
money 10 pay the mortgage or the house in
which we livet-but il is all gone now"
elias he lost 2"
"I don't know; supposed So Las, week
he drew out The two thousand dollars from
the bank and lent it 10 Mr.. Byrce for ten
days"
"Who is Mr, Byrce'"
'TIe is broker. My father got acquaint.
ed with him through George Chandler, who
boarded with US, and who is MIR. Byrcers
clerk"
"Does MIR. Byrce refuse TO pay il!"
"He says he has paid it,"
"WelI, what is the trouble, then ~
"Father says he has not paid it,"
"Iudeod! But the note will prove that he
has not paid it. OF course you have that
note? 2"
"No; Mr.. Byrce has H."
"Then Of course he has paid il !'
81 suppose he has, or he could not have
had The nole."
"Whal does your fathe. sayp
'He is positive that he has never received
the money. The mortgage, he says, must
be paid tomorrow"
"Very singular! Was your father
hesita,ed TO use the unpleasan, words
which must have grated harshIy on the ear
Of the devoted girl.
"Mr. Byrce says that my father was not
just right when he paid him, though not very
bad"
II will see see your father"
Gle is coming here in few moments.
thought would see you and tell you the
facts before he came"
81 do not see how Byrce could have OBJ
tanned the note unless he paid The money
Where did your father keep t?"
He gave it 10 me, and put ii in The Sec
retary In The front room."
"Who was in the room when you put il
in the secretaryW
"Mr. Byrce, George Chandler, my father
and myself"
The conversation was here interrupted by
the entrance of Wallace. He looked pale
and haggal9, as much from the effects of
anxiety as of the debauch from which he
was jus, recovering.
"She has told you about it, | suppose"
said he in very low Tone"
"She has"
plled him, poor fellow, for two thousand
dollars was a large sum for him 10 accu
mulale IN his little business. The loss of il
would make the future look like desert 10
him. II would be misfortune which one
must undergo 20 appreciate it.
"What do you think about it 7" asked he,
very gloomiIy. I know he never paid me.
was not much in liquor at the time. | re-
member very we'll of going home as regu.
larly as ever did in my life. l could tell
how passed the time"
"Whal passed between you on that day 7"
"WeI, merely stepped into his Office
it was only day before yesterday-lo tell him
not 10 forget TO have the money ready for
me tomorrow. He took me into his back
office, and as sat there he said he would
ge! the money ready the next day. He then
left me and went into The front Office, where
heard him send George out 10 draw check
for two thousand dollars; SO supposed he
was going TO pay me them"
"Whai does the clerk cay about il ?"
HE says MIR. Byce remarked, when he
sent him, that he was going IL pay me The
money"
tJust so"
"And when George came in, he went 10
the front Office again, and took the money.
Then he came 10 me again, but did not offer
10 pay me-"
LODI ;,h