The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1875-06-23

| our OHer IL ilUeral one Dut
must first look at tho mortgage. This
appears to be correct" he, continued
when he examined the instrum eut
at is properly acknowledged and the
signature is undoubtedly that Of
Philip Merwin. suppose the young
ladies will have to 60 to the county
seat to execute the deed"
The girls codntenauoes fell at this
oudden surrender on the part of their
champion.
"This reminds me-" said tho old
lawy er, picking up tho mortgage
again, "of an occurrence that fell
under my observation IN Tennessee.
Not that the two cases are alike, as
lie Tennessee case was undou btedly
a fraudulent affair, but there was q
similarity in the circumstances. Don't
look 80 downhearted, young ladies.
What will be must be, and it is use
less to CRY about what cannot be
helped. AS l was about to say, a
man died in Tennessee, leaving q
widow and one daughter. The widow
was about to administer upon his es-
tate, when man who was unknown
came forward, and presented mort.
gage similar to this, and for exactly
the sumo amount. 1t was examined
by lawyers who were familiar with
the signature of tho deceased, aud
pronounced correct. Although there
was something strange about the
affair, they GOULD 6ud no flaw in the
instrum ant. 1t was particularly puz.
zlipg to one of them, who thoug &
that he bad transacted all the law
business of the deceased. He got
hold of the mortgage and brought it
to me when l was in Nashville. l
happened to have in my possession O
very powerful magnifying glass that
had been presented to me-the most
powerful single lens I have ever seen.
With this | examined the mortgage,
and soon discovered that sforty' had
been raised from -four There WAS
no mistake about it. I could easily
see the marks of chemical erasure, aud
the difference, in pen and ink, be-
tween the raised and the rest Of the
instrument. How the rascal got into
the Registers Office, 1 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 oiroum.
81 ance, wasn't it, Mr.. Campbell 2"
Mr.. Campbell was fidgeting uneasi.
ly 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 it magnifies. Now, as l 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 Tennessee mans
name Was William Bell, and he has
added Camp 10 it since he came to
Missouri"
Campbell his face red as flame,
reached out bis hand, for the docu.
ment. ..E.. a-........
"I believe will keep this, Mr..
Campbell, for fear Of accidents.
What do you think you could it by
force 7 Here is something that
shoots five times. Going, are you
Very we'll; don't think you will be
molested, ifyou leave this part of the
country and never return to it. 1t ia
barely possible that the estate Of
Philip Merwin may really owe you
four thousand dollars. If so, I ad-
wise you not to try to collect the
debt, as such an attempt would land
you in the penitentiary. Good night,
Mr.. Campbell, and farewell"
"Wbat is it7 What does this
mean T. asked CLARA, as Mr.. Pierce.
rubbing his hands and smiling,
bustled around to fill his pipe.
"Are you 80 dull my Oh, ld7 Why,
the fellow is q Swindier, and has been
found out. | guessed as much when
l first heard of the affair, and mas sure
Of it when you told me his name.
You will soon be able to pay me ny
5000, and then we will streighteu up
q alters. Thank you, Mary, you are
very kind to give me light."' .St
"Do you mean to punish him, asked
Mary a. 49, .,s.
1T would hardly pay. We could
put him in the penitentiary, but you
might lose four thousand dollars bv
the job. BY trying for forty thous.
and, ho has lost the four that may
have been justly his due. He will
be far from here by morning, I have
no doubt, a good riddance to him
All, this is comfortable. l know
that I feel better, and hope that you
do" 'a.. r.. 49,. 40 a.t
The girls were sure that o great
weight had been lifted from their
minds aud hearts. William Camp.
bell, alias Bell, deeamped, and Abner
Pieros stayed a week with the or.
phans, during which, time he ar.
ranged all their affairs salts.
faolorily, and won their lasting graft.
tude and love. xra -.-al n.
"How can We ever thank you for
all you have, done: for us {" said
CLARA whon she was about to leave!
"It was for your riiother's sake my
ohild,and for her sake,if can help
you, all l ,havb Ia at your serviee."i -
/ - Abner Pierce haa3. viafbed khar fr