Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-08-13
rHE STOLEN NoTHD
Rya Retired Asssrnex.rE

sufficient to buy the house in which he
resided. He had purchased it several
years befole, for three thousand dollars,
paying one thousand down, and securing
the balance by mortgages 10 the seller.
The mortgage note was almost due at
the time circumstances inside me acquain.
ted 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. l was well
acquainted with q Wallace, having done
some little Collecting, and drawn 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 seould be
turned out of the house in which they
lived. VsBA2su aS Asasas A-A-
"Perhaps not, Miss Wallace, said l,
trying to console her, and give the affair,
whatever it was, bright aspect. "What
has hsppened2" AaUl ,saaSIH6Ld lo.,F
sas 'sMy father she replied, sshad the
money to pay the mortgage on the house
in which we live, but it is all gone now"
"Has he lost it2ps hesnlr1sssT
81 don't know; suppose so. Last
week he drew two thousand dollars from
the bank, and lent it to Mr.. Bryce for
ten days"
"Who is Mr.. Bryce9"
s.He is broker. My father got ac-
qusinted with him through George
Chandler, who boards with US, and who
is Mr.. Bryce's clerk" lT
.'Does Mr.. Bryce refuse to pay it,"
"He says he has paid it."
swell, what is the trouble then9"
sFather says he has not paid it.
'Iudeedl But the note will prove that
he has paid it. Of course you have the
note2" l -
'sNo, Mr.. Bryce has it.
"Then, of course he has paid it"
81 suppose he has, or he could not have
the note" ~H r
"What does your father say2"
she is positive that he never received
the money. The mortgage, he says, must
be paid to- morrow"
Every singular! Was your father"
hesitated to use the unpleasant word
which must have grated harshly on the
ear of the devoted girl.
'Mr. Bryce says father was not quite
right when he paid him, but not very
bad"
81 will see your father"
SHE is coming up here in few mo-
ments; thought would see you first
and tell you the facts before he came"
81 do not see how Bryce could have
obtained the note, unless he paid the
money. Where did your father keep liz"
''He gave it to me, and put it in the
secretary"
''Who was in the room when you put
it in the secretsry2"
''Mr. Bryce, George Chandler, my
father and myself"
by the entrance of 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, l suppose"
said he, in very low tone.
''She has,"
l pitied him, poor fellow, for two
thousand dollars was very large sum
for him to accumulate in his little bust
ness. The loss of it would make the
future look like desert to him. 1t
would be misfortune which one must
undergo to appreciate it. ..=--...
"What passed between you on that
day2" g.
swell, 1 merely stepped into his office
it was only the day before yesterday
to tell him not to forget to have the mon
ey for me tomorrow. He took me iuto
his back Office, and as l sat there he said
he would get the money ready the next
day. He then left me and went to the
front office, where / heard him send
George out TO the bank to draw check
for two thousand dollars; 30 supposed
he was going to pay me then"
( "What does the clerk say about ita"
she says Mr.. Bryce remarked, when
he sent him, that he was going to pay the
money"
"Just so."
Sand when George came in he went
into the front Office again and took the
money. Then he came back to me
again, and did not offer to pay me the
money"
"Had you the note with you2"
ono; now, / remember, he said he
supposed had not the note with me, or
he would pay it. told him to come in
the next day and 1 would have it ready
that was yesterday. When l came to
look for the note it could not be found.
Annie and / have hunted the house all
over" -a.. sd -a- -
"You told Bryce So"
81 did. He laughed and showed his
note, with his signature crossed over
with ink, and hole punched through il"
'Tt is plain, Mr.. Wallace, that he paid
you the money, as alleged, or he obtained
fraudulent possession of the note and in
tends to cheat you out of the amount
''He has never paid me-" he replied
firmly.
'"Then he has obtained fraudulent pos
session of the note. What sort of a per-
son is that Chandler, who boards with
youl"
ga fine young man. Bless you, he
would not do anything of that kind"
81 am sure he would notn repeated
Annie earnestly.
'tHow else could Bryce obtain the note
but through him? What time does he
come home at night"
ttAlwsys at tea time. He never goes
out in the evening"
''But father, he did not come homo
till 10 o'clock the night before you went
to Bryc1's. He had to stay in the office
to post books, or something of that
kim"
SHOW did he get in2"
ssHe has night-key."
81 must see Chandler" said l.
'cNo harm in seeing him." added Mr..
Wallace, l will go for him."
In few moments he returned with the
young man, Chandler, who in the con-
versation had with him, manifested 8
lively interest in the solution of the mys-
terry, and professed himself ready to do
anything to forward my view.
'sWhen did you return to the house on
Thursday night 2"
'tAbout twelve" .-.. ..--.--
"Twelye, said Annie, SIT was notmore
than ten when heard YOU"
''The clock struck twelve as turned
the corner of the street." replied Chand-
Ter, positively. a
y - L i