Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-08-04
MAS OLD BEAU.

MAS OLD BEAU.
The recent revelations concerning deed
forgeries at criminal rial at Chicago. re :
minded me o. an incident that occurred n
few years ago, in the vicinity of st. Louis.
which seems ID me to be worth relating.
| Cara and Mary Merwin, Sisters and or.
phans, We're in the sitting.room of their
pleasant home on the edge OF a village near
the Missouri river. Their mother had been
dead for several years, their father had late !.
ly died, leaving them an estate, as they sup.
posed, Of the value of soma 10000. but
they had learned quite recently the prc per.
ty was encountered TO such an extent that
they were likely to be deprived of it alt
This discovery, as may he supposed, filled
them with sadness and anxiety, and thew
were seated in silence, unable to read. to
converse, to work, to do anything but to
brood over their e. eat misfortune.
While they were thus occupied with SOM
bre thoughts buggy drove up In front Of
the house, and man alighted aud the bug.
~ drove away.
The man must have been q little ON the
shady side Of SO, to judge from his gray
hairs, although his face was fresh and un.
wrinkled. He was dressed with remarka-
bic neatnees and his manners indicated
briskness as we'll - precision. In one hand
he carried small vAliss and in the other
an umbrella, and be stepped quickly to the
door and rang the bell. In few minutes
be was ushered INTO the presence Of the
yonng ladies. -.
"I'm obliged to introduce myself" he
said, smiling and bowing Ia courtly man
ner--,'Abner Pierce. Here is nv card
professional card. You will perceive that
am lawyer 10 st. Louis, and presumably
respectable man. Don't be afraid; I am
not here to hurt you, but. to help YOU. I
have the honor to call myself friend of
your family Is TO say, although it is
many years since havs seen any member
Of your family, always had the highest
possible regard for your now sainted moth
er, and nothing would please me more than
to be Of some service 70 hsr children"
@We are happy TO meet you" murmured
Clara.
"Thank you. happened to hear--no
matter how-that you are In trouble, and
have come up here in the belief that can
assist you. hope you will feel that you
can trust me. l am actually an honest
man. although lawyer, and mean we'll.
although may express myself clumsily."
II am free to admit said Clara, athat
We need assistance and advice, and that we
have not known 10 whom to look for it,
Every we'll. Its - good thing, no doubt,
that have come. Now, sit down and tell
me all about IT,"
Clara Merwin, who WAS the elder Of the
orphans and leader in everything, told how
she and her sister had taken out letters of
administration upon their fathers estate,
when man Of whom they had never be-
fore heard put in an appearance and pre-
sented mortgage, with bond included, ex-
ecuted by the late Mr.. Merwin, upon all
his real estate, for the sum Of 100000 Not
content with prohibiting them from at.
tempting to sell anything, he had tied up
their money 10 the bank, leaving them abb
solutely penniless. They had used their
credit, but tradesmen were becoming impa-
ttent, and some had refused to supply them
any further without pay.
THAT is bad case" said Mr.. PIERCE
"You need money-that is the FIRST thing to
be attended to. You must let mo act as
your banker until get you out Of this
scrape, and that won't he long, hope
How much do you owe?"
Me's Ts sia sh'n saoo Ss. osas Sas
from . well.flled pocket-book, and handed
II to her.
"For youI mothers sal<e, - he said, when
she refused TO receive Il, and be forced 1t
upon her in such way that she could not
help taking it. He accepted the young Ia.
dies invitation to make their house his
home during his stay, aud went in to din-'
ner with them.
"Is there any place where can smoke p
be asked. when they had returned to the
sitting-room.
''You can smoke here" said the impul.
sive Mary. "Pa always smoked here, and
we are used to it,
So he took meerschnm and some tobac-
CO from his valisc, and was soon putting
away with an air Of great contentment.
Il can think better when smoke" be
said. "Did you have any legal advice in
the matter Of that mortgage, Mics Mer-
VIM"
eyes, sir" replied Clara. sour lawyer
said II was plain case against us, although
it was strange that we had never heard OF
the mortgage before"
every strange. What is the name Of the
man that holds it?"
"Alexander Campbell"
"Hum. A good name, but bad man,
am afraid. When and where can see
him?"
He will be here this afternoon" answer.
ed Clara. "He proposes, II We viii make
him deed OF the real estate, 10 give up the
bond and mortgage, leaving our money in
bank, and the rest of the personal proper
ty." m
avery liberal. Introduce me to him,
when be comes, IS an old friend OF the fam
lily, and not as a lawyer"
Mr.. Alexander Campbell called in the
course of the afternoon. and was made &C.
quaintsd with Abner Pierce, at whom he
looked suspiciously but his eyes fell when
he met The old gentleman's intent gaze
Mr.. Pierce glanced but slightly at tho deed
that was offered for consideration OF the Ia
dies, being occupied in studying the coun-
tenance Of the man in whose favor it WAs
drawn.
n can't decide upon il just nsw," he
said, as last. "As friend of these young
ladies standing, as l may say, In loco pa
rentis-I must make . few inquiries con-
corning the value Of this property. Sup.
pose you come after supper, Mr.. Campbell,
and suppose you bring that mortgage with
you. have no doubt 1t Is All correct, but
| would like to see It."
Mr. Campbell asssnted to this and with
drew. Abner Pierce 6:led his pipe with
nervous haste, but also with tobacco, and
Mary brought him light.
81 know that you haye some good news
for us.' she said, II can zee it 10 your
face"
"Not bad, my child. I hope and trust
that Il ia very good. A good name, but q
bad man, said, and that is true. think
SEQ my way ont Of this difficulty, and the
money that lent you il safe. But you
mustn't interfere with me, young ladies, or
be surprised at ANYTHING may say or do,
or object 10 it. You must trust me, and lot
me work in my own way"
After supper when Abner Pierce had en-
joyed another comfortable smoke, and con-
versed with the girls concerning their
mother a he had known her In her youth
IA subject upon which be grew quite clio.
quent-Alexander Campbell came in,
bringing the deed and mortgage, both Of