Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-10-06
THE STOLEN NOTE.

Except that he INDUCED too freely in
the use Of the Intoxicating cup, John Wal
lace 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 batter by trade, and hy indus
try and thrift he had secured money
enough % buy the house in which he lived.
He bad purchased it several years before.
fer three thousand dollars, 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 acauaint.
cd 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 some
legal documents for him. One dav 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 /.
trying TO console her, and give the affair.
whatever it was, bright aspect. 'sWhat
has happened 7s
''My father" she replied, ''had the mon
ey to pay the mortgage on the house in
which we live, bot It is all gone now.h
''IIas he lost it o.
Il 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.. Bryce n
"He is a broker NV father rot ac-
quainted with him through George Chand-
Ter who boards with US, and who is Mr..
Bryce's clerkn
"Does Mr.. Bryce refuse to pay itTs
"He SAYS be has paid it.n
'Well, what is the trouble then 7s
Father says he has not paid it,
Indeed But the note will prove that
he has paid it. OF course you have the
note n
''No. Mr.. Bryce has itn
"Then, Of course be has paid il. -
VI suppose he has, or be could not have
the note.n
"W hat does your father say 2"
"1e Is positive that he never received
the money. The mortgage, he saws, 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 says father was not unite
right when he paid him, but not very bad. y
IL viii see your father"
"He IS coming up here in few mo-
ments; thought would see you first and
tell you the facts before be came.n
81 do not see how Bryce could have OBJ
tanned the note, unless be paid the money.
Where did your father keep il r.
HE gave it to me, and | put il in the
secretary"
'Who was in the room when you put it
in the secretary ~
'Mr. Bryce. George Chandler, my father
and myself"
The conversation was here interrupted
by the entrance of Wallace. He looked
pale and haggard, as much from the effects
Of anxiety as from the debauch from which
be was recovering.
''Sne has told you about il, suppose. y
said he, in very low tone.
"She hasn
pitied him, poor fellow, for two thou
sand dollars was large sum for him to
accumulate In his little business. The loss
Of II would make the future look like
desert to him. 1t would be a misfortune
which one must undergo to appreciate il.
"What passed between you on that
day 2"
swell, merely stepped into his Office
1t was only the day before yesterday-to
tell him not to forget TO have the money
for me by to morrow. He took me into
his back Office, and rs | sat there he said
be would get the money ready the next
day He then left me and went in to the
front Office, where / heard him send
George out to the bank, to draw a check
for two thousand dollars; so supposed he
was going to pay me then"
"What does the clerk say about il ~
she says Mr.. Bryce remarked, when be
sent him, that he was going to pay the
money!
HJust so.n
"And when George came II he went into
the front Office again and took the money.
then he came TO me again, and did not Of
fer to pay me the money"
"Had you the note with you ?r
''No; now remember, he said he SUP
posed / had not the note with me, or he
would pay it. | told him to come in the
next day and would have it ready-that
was yesterday. When came to look for
the note it could not be found; Annie and
! have hunted the house all over"
.'You told Bryce so.'
81 did. He laughed and showed his
note, with his signature crossed over with
ink, and hole punched through it.n
1T is plain, Mr.. Wallace, that he paid
you the money, as alleged, or has obtained
fraudulent possession Of the note, and in
tends to cheat you out of the amount.''
"He never paid me-" be replied firmly.
Then be has fraudulently obtained pos
session of the note. What sort of a per-
son is that Chandler, who boards with
you2"
"a fine young man. Bless you, he
would not do anything Of that kind"
Il am sure he would not" repeated An
ME earnestly.
uHow else could Bryce obtain the note
u Al Il a n