Middletown transcript., 1875-10-16

see case was uDQOuOteuiy iTduuuieu
affair; but there is similarity in th
circumstances Do not look so dow
hearted, young ladies. What will b
must be, and it is useless to cry abou
what can't be helped. As I was abou
to say, a man died ia Tennessee, leav
ing a widow and one daughter. Th'
widow was about to administer upol
his estate, when a man who was un
known came forward, and presented |
mortgage similar to this, and for ex
actly the same amount. 1t was ex
amined by lawyers who were familiar
with the signature Of the deceased. ant
pronounced correct.
:Al.hough there was something
strange about the affair, they coule
find no flaw in the instrument. It wa
particularly puszling to one of them
who thought be had transacted all th'
law business Of the deceased. He go
hold of the mortgage and brought it tt
me when I was in Nashville. l hap
pened to have in my possession very
powerful magnifyipg glass that had
been presented to me-the most power
full single lens I have ever seen. With
this l examined the mortgage. and soon
discovered that four had been raised to
forty. There was no mistake about it
1 could easily see the mark of chemical
erasure, and the difference in pen and
ink between the raised and the rest Of
that 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.
wasn't it, Mr.. Campbell 2
Mr.. Campbell was idgeting uneasily
in his chair. and made no reply.
Here is the glass. continued the old
gentleman, taking it from his pocket,
.and you can see for yourself how well
it magni6es. Now as-I look at this
'forty'-why bless me. the same signs
are visible that I saw in my Tennessee
mortgage! / think you will be obliged
to drop this, Mr.. Campbell My Ten
nessee mans name was Alexander Bell,
and he has added Camp to it since be
came to Missouri
Campbell, his face red as flame.
reached out bis hand for the document.
Il believe. I will keep this, Mr..
Campbell, for fear Of accident. What /!
do you think you could take it BY
force Here is something that shoots
Eve times. Going, are you? Very
we'll, dop't think you will be molest-
ed. if you will leave this part Of the
country and never return to it. 1t is
barely possible that the estate of Philip
Merwin may really owe you four thou
sand dollars. If so, l advise you not
to try and collect the debt, as such an
attempt would land you in the peniten-
tiary. Good night, Mr. Campbell, and
farewell
What is it? What does this mean =
asked Clara, as Mr.. Pierce, rubbing
bis hands and smiling, hustled about to
Gil his pipe.
Are you so dull, my child? Why,
the fellow is swindler, and has been
found out. I guessed as much when |
first heard Of the affair, and was sure
of it when you told me bis name. You
will soon be able to pay me my two
hundred and then we will straighten
up matters. Thank you, Mary, you
are very kind to give me light
Don't you mean to punish him 2
asked Mary.
1t would hardly pay. We could put
him in the penitentiary, but you might
lose four thousand dollars by the job.
By trying for forty thousand be has
lost the four that may have been justly
his due. He will be far from here by
I have no doubt. and good
radiance to him. All! this is comfort
able. know that I feel better, and I
hope you do
The girls were sure that great
weight had been lifted from their minds
and hearts. Alexander Campbell, alias
Bell, decamped. and Abner Pierce
stayed week with the orphans, during
which time he arranged all their affairs
satisfactorily and won their lasting
gratitude and love. <s
How can we ever thank you for all
you have done for us p said Clara,
when he was about to leave.
1T was for your mothers sake, my
,hild. And for her sake, if I can ever
help you. all have is at your service. ,
Abner Pierce has made visits to the
orphans frequently since the event
above narrated, and they have always
had cordial welcome for mas old
beau