Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1871-09-19

John Wallace was an honest, high
minded and extraordinary man. His
one great fault hung like dark shad-
ow over his many virtues. He meant
well and when he was sober did we'll.
He was halter by trade, and by
industry and thrift he had secured
money enough to buy the house in
which he lived. He had purchased
it several years before, for three thous-
and dollars, paying one thousand dol
lars down and securing the balance
by 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 to be no possibility of
an accident. | was well acquainted
with Wallace, having done some little
collecting and drawn up legal docu-
ments for him. One day his daughter
Annie came to my Office in great dis
tress, 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, a bright aspect ,
What has happened ?"
"My father" she replied, chad the |
money to pay the mortgage on the v
house in which we live, but it is all
gone now" o
''Has he lost it ?"
IL don't know, | suppose SO. Last
week he drew two thousand dollars n
from the bank and lent it to Mr..
Bryce for ten days" e,
"Who is Mr.. Bryce? ?" &c
"He is broker. My father got
acquainted with him through George fir
Chandler who boards with us and who w
is Mr. Bryce's clerk"
"Does Mr.. Bryce refuse to pay it ?" l..
"He says he has paid it,"
"Well, what is the trouble then ?"
"Father says he has not paid it," ed
Indeed But the note will prove
that he has paid it. Of course you tn
have the note ?" TIL
"No. Mr.. Bryce has it," ale
"Then, of course, he has paid it," III,
II suppose he has, or he could not fro
have the note' pla
"What does your father say ~ sto
Gle is positive that he never receiv- wa
ed the money. The mortgage, he
says, must be paid tomorrow" was
"Very singular. Was your father it v
:" hesitated to use the unpleasant He
word which must have grated harshly you
ipon the devoted child. the
"Mr. Bryce says father was not rate
iuite right when he paid him, but not let
cry bad" will
IL will see your father" A
He is coming up here in few mo- a la
ncnts; | thought l would sec you you
irst and tell you the facts before he sent
ame.' par
II do not see how Bryce could have dish
btained the note, unless he paid the /
money. Where did your father keep Z"
t?" E ~ aga
Gle gave it to me, and I put it in "
he secretary" - -tnF lace
"Who was in the room when you pile
out it in the secretary ~ pea
"Mr. Bryce, George Chandler, my g
ather and myself" crul
The conversation was here inter- "
'upted by the entrance of Wallace sha
He looked pale and haggared, as much I
rom tho debauch from which he was was
recovering, as anything else. q
"Shc has told you all about it, I you
said he, in very low tone. lars
. "She has" trol
pited him, poor fellow, for two my
thousand dollars was large sum for you
lin to accumulate in his little bust crir
ess. The loss of it would make the
uture look like desert to him. 1t
'ould be misfortune which one must the
Undergo to appreciate it.
"What passed between you on that LOO
ayr not
"Well, l merely stepped into his Of
ce-it was only day before yesterday said
to tell him not to forget to have sess
he money ready for me tomorrow
lie took me into his back Office, and :"
, sat there he said he would get
lie money ready for me the next day. Mol
lie then left me and went into the note
ont Office, where heard him send I"
Gorge out to the bank to draw a ing
leck of two thousand dollars; 80 l g.
opposed he was going to pay me then" 70 !;
"He says that Mr.. Bryce remarked II
IN a