The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-03-07
THE STOLEN NOTE.
BY \ RETIRED ATTORNEY.

Except that he INDUCED too freely
IN the use of the Intoxicating cup, John
W allace was an honest. high-minded
man. His one great fault hung like a
great shadow over his many virtues.
He meant well, and when he was sober
he did well
He was halter by trade, and b in
dustry and thrift had secured money
enough to buy the house in which he
i resided 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 affairs of the fami-
l.. But Wallace was ready for the day
he had saved up the money, and
there seemed to be no possibility Of an
accident. | was well acquainted with
! Wallace, having done some little col
lecting and drawn up some legal doc
uments for him. One day his daugh-
/ ter Annie came to my Office in great
distress Of mind, declaring 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, a brighter as
Pect. What has happened ~
MY father" she replied, "had 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 suppose so. Last
week he drew two thousand dollars
from the bank and lent it to Mr. Bry ce
for ten days"
"Who is Mr.. Bry zee? ?''
"He is a broker Ny father got ac-
quainted with him through George
Chandler who boards with us, and
who is Mr.. Br, ce's clerk"
Does Mr.. Br,c refuse to pay it 2"
''IIe sa 5 he mas paid it"
"Weu, what is the trouble them"
Father says he has not paid it"
"Indeed! But the note Will prove
that lie has not paid it. OF course you
have the note :"
"NO, Mr. Bryce has it"
Then, of course, he has paid it"
Il suppose he has, or he would not
/ have the note"
What does your father say ?"
"HTe is positive that he never re
| ceived the money. The mortgage, he
says. must be paid tomorrow
"Eer singular; was your father"
| hesitated to use the unpleasant
word, which must have grated harshl
on the ear Of the devoted girl
MIR Br. ce saEs fatherwaa not quite
right when he paid him, bu5 not very
+ bad"
Il will see your father"
"IIe is coming up here in a few nc
ments. | thought | would see you
first, and tell you the facts before he
came"
- 10 not see how Br. &C could have
obtained the note unless he paid the
money Where did Jour father keep
the note ?"
He gave it to me, and / luc it in
! the secretary"
who was in the room when yOu pU5
it in the secretar 2"
"Mr, Bryce, George Chandler. N
The conversation was here interrupt
CA ~ lDS ttlIittiitC VI " Stl4stNt- 1lC
looked pale and haggard, as much tie
effect Of anxiety as from the debaucL
from which he was recovering.
"She has told you about it, | sup
pose" said he in a very low voice.
'She has"
| pitied him, poor fellow, for two
thousand dollars was large sum for
him to accumulate IN his business
The loss of it would make the future
look like a desert to him. 1t would be
a misfortune which one must undergo
to appreciate.
What passed between you on that
day ?"
"Well, l merely stepped into his of
fice-it was only the day before yester-
dav-tO tell him not to forget to have |
the money for me tomorrow. He |
took me into his back office and as | !
sat there he said he would get the mon |
ey read, for me next day He then
went to the front Office, where | heard
him send George out to the bank to
draw a check for two thousand dollars:
so l supposed he was going to pay me
then"
''What does the clerk say about it 2''
"He says Mr.. Bryce remarked, when
he sent him, that he was going to pa,
the money"
"Just So"
And when George came in he went
into the office again and took the mon
ey. Then he came back to me again,
and did offer to pay me the moneJ."
Had you the note with yOu?"
"NO; now | remember-he said he
supposed | had not the note with me,
or he would pay it. told him would
call in next day and have the note with
me-that was yesterda When came
to look for the note it could not be .
found. Annie and l have hunted the
L Ill 4