The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-09-24
THE STOLEN NOTE.

many virtues He meant well, and when he
was sober he done we'll.
He was halter by trade, and by industry
and thrift had acquired money sufficient to buy
the house in which he lived. He had purchased
it several years before, for three thousand dol
lars paying one thousand down, and securing
the balance by mortgage to the seller
The mortgage note was almost due at the
time circumstances made me acquainted with
the family. But Wallace was ready for the day !;
he had saved up the money; there appeared to
be no possibility of an accident I was we'll &C.
Guainted with Wallace, having done some col
lectlng, and drawn up legal documents for him.
One day his daughter Annie came to 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 I, trying to
console her, and give the affair, whatever it was,
bright prospect "What has happened P"
"My father" she replied, chad the money to
pay the mortgage on the house in which we live,
but it is all gone now"
"Has he lost it ?"
81 don't know; 1 suppose So Last week he
drew two thousand dollars from the bank, and
lent it to Mr.. Bryce for ten days"
"Who is Mr. Bryce? ?"
"He is broker My father got acquainted
with him through George Chandler who boards
with US and who is Mr.. Bryce's clerk"
"Does Mr.. Bryce refuse to pay it?"
"He says he has paid it,"
'Well what is the trouble then z"
"Father says he has not paid it,"
"Indeed But the note will prove that he
has not paid. Of course you have the note ?"
mo. Mr.. Bryce has it,"
"Then of course he paid it,"
81 suppose he has, or he could mot have the
note"
"What does your father say?"
"He is positive that he has never received the
money The mortgage, he says, must be paid
Tomorrow"
Every singular! Was your father -"
hesitated to use the unpleasant word, which
must have grated harshly on the ear of the de.
voted girl.
"Mr Bryce says that my father was not quite
right when he payed him. but not very bad"
81 will see your father"
ale Is coming up here in few minutes I
thought l would see you first, and tell you the
facts before he came"
II do not see how Mr.. Bryce could have OBJ
tanned the note, unless he paid the money.
Where did your father keep IT."
"He gave it to me, aud put it in the secre-
tary, in the front room."
"Wbo was in the room when you put it in the
secretary"
"Mr. Bryce, George Chandler, my father and
myself"
The conversation was here interrupted bv the
entrance of Wallace He looked pale and hag.
gard, as much from the effect of anxiety as from
the debauch from which he was recovering
''She has told you about it, suppose" said
he in very low tone.
''She has
l pitied him. poor fellow, for two thousand
dollars was large sum Of money for him to &C.
Cumulate in his little business. The loss of it
would make the future look like desert TO him.
1t would be misfortune which one must under.
60 to appreciate it.
"What passed between you on that day."
"Well, merely stepped into his otiice-it was
only day before yesterday-to tell him not to
forget to have the money by me for tomorrow.
He took me IN his back Office, and as 1 sat there
he said he would get the money ready the next
day. He then left me and went into the front
Office, where heard him send George cut to the
bank, to draw check for two thousand dollars:
50 | supposed he was going to pay me then"
What does the clerk say about it z"
"He says Mr.-Bryce remarked, when he sent
him, that he was going to pay the money"
"Just So"
0"And when George came IN, he went into the
front Office again and took the money. Then he
came to me again, but did not offer to pay me
the money"
Had you the note with your"
NO; now / remember he said he supposed l
had not the note with me or he would pay.
told hun TO come in next day, and ! would have
1t ready-that was yesterday. When came to
look for the note it not to be found; Annie
and have hunted the house ull over"
You told Bryce so Z"
Il did. lie laughed, and showed me his ste.
with his signature crossed over with ink. and q
hole punched through it,"
at il plain, Mr.. Wa lace, shat he has paid
you the money, as alleged, or has obtained fraud.
ulent possession Of the note and in tends to cheat
you oct II the amount"
He never paid me-" he replied, firmly.
"Then he has fraudulently obtained possession
of the note. What sort of person is that Chan.
dler. who boards with you y
"a fine young man. Bless you, he would not
do anything of that kind"
81 am sure he would not repeated Annie
earnestly
How else could Bryce obtain the note but
through him! What time does he come home
ut nights'
always at tea time. He never goes out in
the evening"
"But, father, he did not come home till ton
o'clock the night before you went to Bryce. He
had to stay in the Office to post books OK some.
thing Of that kind"
"How did he get in ?"
"IIe has night key"
~ must see Chandler" said I.
mo harm in seeing him." added Mr.. Wal.
lace; II will 70 for him."