Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-05-03
TINE HOUSEHOLD.
TINE sToLEH NOTE.

Inc affairs Of the family. But Wallace was read
Tor the day. He had saved up the money. Their
seemsd to be no possibility isa &C., Sf an accident
some little collecting and drawn up legal docu
nents for him. One day his daughter. Annie
came to my office in great distress, declaring
that her father was ruined, and that they shouli
be turned out of the house in which they lived
Perhaps not, Miss Wallace" said 1, tryinl
to console her, and give the affair, whatever
was, bright aspect. 'What has hsppenedf"
my father, she replied, "had the money Il
pay the mortgage on the house in which we live
but II is all gone now.
'' Has he lost 1t 2
"I don't know; suppose So Last week he
drew o., 900 from the bank, and lent 1t to Mr.
Bryce for ten days."
"He is broker. MY father got acquainted
with him through Geo. Chandler, who board
with US, and who is Mr.. Byrces clerk"
Does Mfr. Bryce refuse to pay iii
- He says he has paid it, !"
nWell, what is the trouble then 2"
Father says he has not paid it"
Indeed But the note will prove that he has
paid il. OF course you have the note"
"No. Mr. Bryce has it.
"Then, of course, he has paid It,"
suppose he has, or he could not have the
note"
What does your father ssyi"
q He is positive that he never received the
money. The mortgage, he says, must be paid
"Very singular Was your father"
hesitated to use the unpleasant words which
must have grated. .harshly on the ear of the de-
voted girl.
"Mr. Bryce says father was not quite right
when he paid him. but not very bad"
81 will see your father"
"He is coming up here in g few moments I
thought would see you first and tell you the
facts before he came"
II do not see how Bryce could have obtained
the note, unless he paid the money. Where did
your father keep it2"
He gave it to me. aud put 1t in the secreta-
ry."
"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 hag-
gard, az much from the effects of anxiety az
from the debauch from which he was recover
ing.
he, in very low tone.
''She has"
pitied him, poor fellow; for 90 900 was a
large sum to accumulate in his little business.
The loss Of 1t would make the future look like g
desert to him. u would be misfortune which
one must undergo to appreciate it.
What passed between you on that day 2"
well, merely stepped into his of6ce-it was
only the day before yesterday-to tell him not
to forget to have the money ready for me by to-
az sat there he said he would get the money
ready the next day. He then left me and went
into the front Office, where heard him send
George out to the bank to draw q check for
two Thousand dollars; so supposed he was go
ing to pay me then"
What does the:clerk say about it 2"
'He says Mr.. Bryce remarked, when he sent
him, that ne was going to pay me the money"
"Just 80"
And when George came in he went into the
front office again, and took the money. Then
he came to me again, and did not offer to pay
me the money"
Had you the note with you ?"
No; now remember; he said he supposed
had not the note with me, or ne would pay IT,
told him TO come on the next day and would
have il 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 2"
~ did. He laughed and showed me his note,
with his signature crossed over with ink, aud .
hole punched through it"
1T is plain, Mr. Wallace, that he paid you the
money as alleged, or has obtained fraudulent
possession OF the note, and intends to cheat you
out OF the amount"
HE never paid me" he replied, firmly.
Then he has fraudulently obtained possess
sion Of the note. What sort of person is that
Chandler, who boards with you ?"
q A fine young man. Bless you, he would
not do anything of that kind"
II am sure he would net, repeated Annie,
earnestly.
" How else could Bryce obtain the note but
through him2 What time does he come home
At night ?"
Always at tea time. He never goes ont in the
evening""
" But, father he did not come home till 10
o'clock the night before you went 10 Bryce's. He
had to stay in the office to post books, or some-
thing Of the kind"
How did he get in ?"
He has night key"
must see Chandler" said l.
mo harm in seeing him, p" added Mr.. Wallace;
" will go for him."
Ina few moments he returned with the young
man (Chandler), who, in the conversation had
with him manifested very lively interest In the
solution OF the mystery, and profeesed himself
ready to do anything to forward my views.
When did you return to the house on Thurs
day night ?"
"Tweve!" said Annie. at was not more than
10 when heard you.'
"The clock struck 10 as turned the corner
OF the street, replied Chandler, positively"
certainly heard some one in the front room
at 10, said Annie, looking with AstoDishment at
those around her.
,,s We're getting at something" said I. "How
did you get in 2"
The young man smiled, as he glanced at An
ME, and said
On arriving at the door. found had lost
my night key. At that moment . wstchman
happened along, and / told him my situation.
ne hneW me. ana taking ladder from an un-
nnished house opposite, placed it against one of
the second story windows, and entered in that
way
"Goodl Now who was it that was heard in
the parlor at 10, unless 1t was Bryce or one OF
his accomplices2 He must have taken the key
from your pocket, Mr.. Chandler, and stolen the
note from the secretary. At any rate l will
charge him with the crime let what may hap
pen. Perhaps he will confess when hard pushed. !"
Acting upon this thought, wrete lawyers
letter-'demanded against you," &c.--which
was Immediately sent to Mr.. Bryce. Cautionin &
them.
Bryce came.
We'll, sir, what have you to say against me ?"
he asked stifiy.
:, "A claim on the part Of John Wallace for two
thousand dollars" 1 replied, poking over my
papers, and appearing supremely Indifferent.
Pald 1t, he said, short pie-crust.
a, have you2" said 1, looking him sharply in
lain.
Nevertheless, il within an hour you do not
pay me two thousand dollars, and one hundred
dollars for the trouble and anxiety you have
caused my client, at the end of the next hour
you wlli be lodged in Jail To answer criminal
What do you mean, sir ?"
quenoes.n
=, 1t was a bold charge, and If he had looked
IKE an honest man should not have dared to