Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-02-27
The Stolen Note.
BY A RETIRED ATTORNEY.

BY RETIRED ATTORNEY.
What seems to me the most re-
markable phase of villainy is. that
man himself wealthy can find it In
his heart to pluEder the poor OF earn
ings of the long and weary years.
When the rich rob the rich, it seems
not half so wicked as when man ol
humble means is deprived Of his
humble sustenance. I have often
seen the entire property of individu,
ais swept away at single streke oi
its fortune; and more than once have
seen a man, who thought he had q
competence, ruined in single day
by & VILLAIN.
The instance / am about to relate
though happily the designs of the
robber were frustrated, is one of this
character. where an unscrupulous
person designed to send misery and
ruin to q family of an humble me
chanic.
Except that he indulged too freely
in the use of the intoxicating cup,
John Wallace was an honest, high
minded and exemplary man. His
one great fault hung like a dark
shadow over his many virtues. He
meant well, and when sober he did
well.
He was halter by trade, and by
his industry and thrift had acquired
money to buy the house in which h'
lived. He had purchased it severa
years before for $4,000, paying ont
thousand down and securing the bal
ance by a mortgage to the seller
The mortgage note was almost du'
at the tine when circumstances oc
cured which made me acquainted
with the affairs of the family. Blu
Wallace was ready for the day, h
had saved up the money, and there
seemed no possibility of an aaei
dent
always bought my hats of W al
lace, and am free to say that the.
were the best hats the city afford ed
| had also done some little collectin:
and drawn up some legal document
for him.
One day his daughter Annie cam
to my office in great distress, declar
ing that her father was ruined ant
that they would he turned out OF th
house in which they lived.
Perhaps not, Miss Wallace" re
piled |, trying to console her, ,and CIV
the affair, whatever it was. a brighte
aspect.
You know my father, Mr.. Dock
et?"
Il do, very well.''
'sYou know bis infrmlty?"
81 do; | am sorry ior him. Their
is not a more honest or better dispos
ed person in Boston than your faith
err
HE is very kind and good to u
all; but"
II hope his infrmity does nots.ren
der him troublesome at homer"
mo sir; the people take advantag
of him."
"What has happened?"
"He had the money to pay tn
mortgage on the house in which W
live-but it is all gone now"
"Gone?"
"Yes, gone"
s'Lost?"
81 don't know, 1 suppose so! La:
week he drew out two thousand do
lars from the Bank, and lent it to Nj
Bryce for ten days"
"Who is Mr. Bryce?"
"He is a broker. My father gc
! acquainted with him through Gee
. Chandler, who boards with us, an
! Mr.. Bryce's clerk
The poor girl blushed when 81
mentioned the clerks name, and
did notreqaire great deal of pen'
tration for me to discover that b
was her lover.
docs Mr.. Bryce refuse to pa
it?"
"He has paid it,
"Well, wfrat is the trouble, then?
"Father says he has not paid it.
ssIndeed, but the note will be ev
dence that he has not paid it. {
course you have the note.
mo, Mr.. Bryce has it."
''Then Of course he has paid it."
II suppose he has, or he could n
have had the note"
s.What does your father say?"
''He is positive he never receive
the money. The mortgage must
paid to morrow"
THAT is very singular. Was yo
father
l hesitated to use that unpleasa
word / knew must have grated hars
ly on the ear of the devoted girl.
@Mr. Bryce says my father was n
just right when he paid him, thou
not very bad.''
81 will see your father
"He is coming here in few mi
utes; I thought | would see you a
tell you the facts before he {
here. I"
81 do not see how Mr.. Bryce col
have obtained the note unless
paid the money"
s.Nor II
"Where did your father keep il
"He gave it to me and put it
the front room"