The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-09-02
THE STOLEN NOTE.
BY A RETIRED ATTORNEY

Except that ne INDUCED too freely IN
the use of the Intoxicating cup, John
Wallace was an honest, high minded
man. His one great fault hung like
dark shadow over his many virtues.
He meant well, and when he was sober
he did well.
He was a halter by trade, and by in
dustry and thrift he had secured money
sufficient to buy the house In which he
resided. He had purchased it several
years before, for three thousand dol
lars, paving one thousand down and
secur ng the balance by mortgage to
the seller.
The mortgage note was almost due
at the time circumstances made me
acquainted with the affairs of the fam
lily. But Wallace was ready for the
day; ne had saved up the money; there
seemed to be no possibility of an acct
dent. [ was well acquainted with him.
having done some little collecting, and
drawn up some 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, I said
[, trying to console her, and give the
affair, whatever it was, bright aspect.
"What has happened ~
MY father" she replied, "had the
money TO pay the mortgage on the
house in which we lived, but it is all
gone now"
Has he lost it %
q don't know; l suppose 50. Last
week he drew two thousand dollars
from the bank, and left 1t to Mr.. Bryce
for ten days"
''Who is Mr.. Bryce!'
He is a broker. My father got ac-
quainted with him through George
Chandler, who boards with us, and who
is Mr.. Bryce's clerk
docs Mr.. Bryce refuse to pay it p
He says he has paid it.
"Well, what is the trouble, them"
Father says he has not paid it.
4" Indeed But the note viii prove
tha he has paid it. OF course you
have the nOte2"
"No. Mr.. Bryce has it.
"Then, of course he has paid it.
4 suppose he has, or he could not
have the note"
"What does your father say g.
"He is positive that he never re-
ceived the money, The mortgage, he
says, must be paid tomorrow
Very singular, Was your father
/ hesitated to use the unpleasant
word which must have grated harshly
on the ear of the devoted girl
"Mr. Bryce said father was not quite
right when he paid him, but not very
bad"
Il will see your father"
! 4" He IS coming up here in few mo-
ments; | thought ] would see you first
and tell you the facts before he came .
! :" do not see how Bryce could have
obtained the note, unless he paid the
money Where did your father keep
it 2;
He gave it to me, and [ put it in
| the secretary.
"Who was in the room when you put
1t III the secretary =
Mr. Bryce, George Chandler, my
father and myself.
The conversation was here inter
rupted by the entrance of Mr.. Wallace.
He looked pale and haggard, as much
from the effects OF anxiety as from the
debauch from which he was recovering.
"She has told you about it, [ sup.
pose, said he, in a very low tone.
"She has"
[ pitied him, poor fellow, for two
thousand dollars was a very large sun
for him to accumulate in his little bus.
mess. The loss Of it would make the
future look like q desert to HIM. Il
would be a misfortune which one mus
undergo to appreciate it.
What passed between you on thai
day."
"Well, / merely stepped into his
office-it was only the day before yes
terday-to tell him not TO forget tx
have the money for me tomorrow. He
took me INTO his back office and as
sat there he said he would get the
money ready the next day. He thel
left me and went to the front office
where [ heard him send George out tC
the bank, to draw check fortwo thou
sand dollars; so L supposed he was
going TO pay me then"
What does the clerk say about it +
''He says Mr.. Bryce remarked, wher
he sent him, that he was going to pay
the money!
Just so.
And when George came in he wen
into the front office again and took the
money. Then he came back TO me
again, and did not offer to pay me tn,
money.
Had you the note with YOU ?"
No: pow | remember, he said he
supposed [ had not the note with me
or he would pay it. [ told him TO come
in next day and | would have it read,
that was yesterday. When [ came t.
look for the note it could not be found
Annie and [ have hunted the house al
over >
You told Bryce so. =
Il did He laughed and showed his
note, with his signature crossed over
with ink, and hole punched through
IT"
1T is plain, Mr. Wallace. that he
paid You the money, as alleged, or he
obtained fraudulent possession of the
note, and intends to cheat you out OF
/ the amount"
He has never paid me,,' he replied
firmly
Then he has obtained fraudulent