Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-08-13

Ile matter OF THAT mortgage, MISS Mel
win 20 uss.e
ssYes, sir" said Clara. 'sOur lawyer sal
that it wasa plain case against us, althcug
it was strange that he had never heard o
the mortgage before"
every strange. What is the name o
the man who holds it ~
s'Alexander Campbell y
Hum. A good name. but bad man
I am afraid When and where can | 81
him ~
.'Hc will be here this afternoon an
swered Clara. He proposes that if W.
will make him deed of the real estate, tx
give up the bond and mortgage, leaving
our money in bank and the rest of our per
sonal property.
every liberal. Introduce me to him
when he comes, as an old friend of the fam
lily, and not as a lawyer.' ii
Mr.. Alexander Campbell called in the
course Of tile afternoon, and was made ac
qnainted with Mr.. Abner Pierce, ut whom
he looked suspiciously but his eyes fell
when he met the old gentleman's intent
gaze. MIR. Pierce glanced but slightly ut
the deed which was offered for the consid-
Grafton of the ladies, being occupied in
studying the countenance of the man in
whose favor it was drawn. h 9
81 can't decide upon it just now" he
said, lat least, may say, IN loco PARENTS,
must make few inquiries concerning
the value Of this property. Suppose you
come after supper, MI. Campbell, and sup
pose you bring that mortgage with you. l
have no doubt it is all correct, but would
like to see it,"
Mr.. Campbell assented 10 this and with
drew Abner Pierce filled his pipe with
nervous haste, but also with tobacco, and
Mary brought him light.
81 know that you have some good news
for us, y said she, :" l can see it in your
face"
| 'Not bad, my child. hope and trust
it is very good. A good name, but !. bad
man. | said, and that is true. l think |
see my way out of this difficulty, and the
money [ lent is safe. But you mustn't in
terfere with me, young ladies', or be sur
prised at anything may say or do, or OBJ
ject to it, You must trust me, and let me
work in my own way"
After supper, when Abner Pierce had
enjoyed another comfortable smoke, and
conversed with the girls concerning their
mother as he had known her in her youth,
a subject upon which he grew quite elo-
quent, Alexander Campbell came in. bring
ing tie deed and mortgage, both of which
he handed to Mr.. Pierce for examination.
81 have made inquiries concerning the
property" said the old gentleman, ssand
am satisfied that it is not worth more
than the amount of the mortgage, and
would probably bring much less if sold at
foreclosure. Your offer is a liberal one;
but II must first hook at the mortgage.
This appears to be correct, F." he continued,
when he had examined the instrument.
g It is properly acknowledged, and the sig
nature is undoubtedly that Of Philip Mer-
win. I suppose the young ladies will nave
to go to the county seat to execute the
deed.''
The girls countenances fell at this sud
den surrender on the part of their cham
pion.
"This reminds me-" said the old lawyer,
picking up the mortgage again, ''of an oc-
currence that fell under my observation
in Tennessee. Not that the two cases are
alike; as the Tennessee case was undoubJ-
eddy a fraudulent affair; but there is a
similarity in the circumstances. Don't
look SO down-hearted, young ladies. What
will be must be, and it is useless to cry
about what can't be helped. AS | was
about to say, man died in Tennessee,
leaving widow and one daughter. The
widow was about to administer upon the
estate, when u man who was unknown
came forward, and presented a mortgage
similar to this, and for exactly the same
amount. 1t was examined by lawyers who
were familiar with the signature of the de-
ceased, and pronounced correct.
Although there was something strange
about the affair, they could find no flaw
in the instrument. 1t was particularly
pnzzling to one OF them, who thought that
he had transacted all the law business of
deceased. He got hold of the mortgage
and brought it to me when | was in Nash
vile. 1 happened to have in my pos
session very powerful magnifying glass
that had been presented to me-the most
powerful single lens [ have ever seen.
D1ortnQnn and
soon discovered that four had been raised
to forty There was no mistake about it,
| could easily see the mark of chemical
erasura, and the difference in pen and
| ink. between the raised and the rest OF
the instrument. How the rascal got into
the Registers Office, don't know; but
the record there had been altered in the
same manner. He ran away and it was
not considered worth while to follow him.
Strange circumstance WASH It it, Mr.. Camp
bell?"
Mr.. Campbell was fidgeting uneasily in
his chair, and made no reply.
.sHere is the glass;" continued the old
gentleman, taking it from his pocket,
s'and you can see for yourself how well it
magnifies. Now, as look at this forty
| why bless me the same signs are visible
that L saw in my Tennessee mortgage! |
think you will be obliged to drop this, Mr..
Campbell. My Tennessee mans name was
Alexander Bell, and he has added a Camp
to it since he came to Missouri"
Campbell, his face red as flame, reached
out his hand for the document. III
81 believe l will keep this, Mr.. Camp
bell, for fear of accidents. What, do you
think you could take it by force? Here is
something that shoots five times. Going
are you? Very we'll, don't think YOU