Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-01-31
THE STOLEN NOTE.


one great fault hung like dark shadow over
his many virtues. lie meant WE'LL and when
ho was sober he did we'll.
He was a halter by trade, aud by industry
and thrift had acquired money sufficient to buy
the house in which he lived. lie had purchas-
ed it several years before, for three thousand
dollars paying one thousand down, and secur-
ing the balance by a mortgage to the seller.
The mortgage-nOte was almost due at the
time the circumstances 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 ac-
cident
was well acquainted with Wallace, having
done some little collecting, and drawn up some
legal documents for him.
One day his daughter Anne came 10 my Of
fee 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 it was, brighter aspect. "What has
happened 7"
"My fa,her," she replied, chad the money
10 pay the mortgage on the house in which we
livc-but it is all gone now"
elias he lost ~
81 don't know | suppose so. Last week
he drew out the two thousand dollars from the
bank, and len, it 10 Mr.. Bryce for ten days"
"Who is Mr. Brycei'
"lie is broker. My father got acquainted
with him through George Chandler, who board
ed with us, and who is MIR. Bryce's clerk"
"Does Mr.. Bryce refuse to pay il"
ale says he has paid it,"
"Well, what is the trouble, then,'
Father says he has not paid it,.
"lndeed But the note will prove that he
has not paid ii. OF course you have the notel''
"No; Mr.. Bryce has it,"
Then of course he has paid it."
81 suppose he has, or he could not have had
the note."
"What does your father sayl"
ale is positive that he never received the
money. The mortgage, he says, mus, be paid
tomorrow"
every singular Was yonr father-"
Ihesitated 10 use the unpleasant words, which
mus, have grated harshly on the ear Of the de.
voted girl.
"Mr Bryce says my father was no, just righ
when he paid him, though not very bad"
81 will see your father"
"iIe is coming here in few moments
thought would see you and tell you the facts
before he came
~ do no, see how Bryce could have obtain
ed the note, unless he paid the money. Where
did your father heep il !"
"He gave it 10 Inc, and I put it in the sec
re,ary in the front room ~
"Who were in the room when you put it il
the secretary"
"Mr, Bryce, George Chandler, my father
and myself
The conversation was here interrupted by th
entrance of Wallace. He looked pale and hag
gard, as much from the effects of anxiety as o
the debauch from which he was just recover
ing.
"Shc has told you about it, suppose, sal
he in very low tone.
"She has,
pitied him, poor fellow, for two thousan
dollars was largo Sim for him 10 acculnulat
in his little business. The loss of il woul
make the future Look like desert To him.
would be a misfortune which one must underg
to appreciate il.
What do you think about !" asked he
; very gloomily' 81 know he never paid me-
: was not much in liquor at that time. r,
U member very well Of going home as regularl
n as ever did in my life. could tell how
passed the time"
"What passed between you on that day -
d "Well, merely stepped into his Office it vi
: only day before yesterday 10 tell him not 10 70
Is get 10 have the money ready for me by to-mo
y row. He took me into his back office, and
II | sat there he said he would get the mon'
81 ready the next day. lie then left me and we
L. into the front Office, where heard him ser
e George out to the bank TO draw a check for ~
p thousand dollars so supposed he was goir
l. to pay me then"
"What does the clerk say about il ~
IN "He says Mr. Bryce remarked, when he Sc
'r him, that he was going to pay me the money
e. "Just so."
D. "And when George came, he went TO I
4 front Office again, and took the money. Th
r he came to me again, but did not offer to p
" me The money"
b 'Had you the note Win you
ne "No; now remember, he said he supp'
n ed had not the note with me, or he would p
IN it. He told me to come in next day and
H. would have it ready-that was yesterday.
he When came TO look for the note ii could I
ne be found; Anne and have hunted the hot
n all over"
lk ''You told Bryce sol''
lie al did ; he laughed and showed me the NJ
hg with his signature crossed over with ink, an
hole punched through ii.'
at is plain, Mr.. Wallace that he paid y
ng the money, as he alleges, or has Obtained fra'
nj, lent possession of the note and intends TO ch
to you out of the amount"
of "He never paid me" replied he, firmly.
'k- "Then he has fraudlently obtained the no
he What sort of person is this Chandler, "
'u- boards with you :"
ed "a fine young man. Bless you he wo
In, not do anything of the kind"
he 81 am sure he would not" repeated An
,ht earnestly.
es- "IIow else could Bryce obtain the note
so through him What time does he come in