The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-05-27

say or do, or object 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
had conversed with the girls concerning
their mother, rs he had known her in
her youth--n subject upon which he
grew very cloquent-Alexnnder Camp
bell came in, bringing the deed and the
mortgage, both of which he handed to
Alr. Pierce for examination.
II have made inquiries concerning the
property, said the old gentleman, and
nm satisfied that it is not worth more
than the amount of the mortgage, and it
would probably bring much less if sold
Mt foreclosure. Your offer is Il liberal
one; but must first look ut the mort
gage This appears to be correct" lie
continued, when he had examined the
instrument. ut il properly ackncw-
ledged, and the signature is undoubtedly
TINT of Philip Merwin. l suppose the
young ladies will have to 20 to the
County seat to execute the deed"
The girls countcnances fell Mt this
sudden surrender on the part of their
champion.
This reminds me-" said the old law
yer, picking up the mortgage again, "of
an occurrence that fell under my obscrva-
ton in Tennessee. Not that the two
cases are alike, rs the Tennessee case
was undoubtedly fraudulent atfnir; but
there was similarity in the circum-
! stances. Don't look so down-heartcd
young ladies. What will be, must be-
and 1t is useless to cry about what cannot
he helped. AS 1 was about to SHY, II lnnn
died in Tennessee, leaving widow and
one daughter. The widow was about to
administer upon his estate, when man
who was unknown came forward, and
presented mortgage similar to this, and
for exactly the same amount. 1t was cx-
amlned by lawyers who were familiar
with the signature Of the deceased, and
pronounced correct. Although there
was something strange about the Affair."
they could find no flaw in the instrument
1t was particularly puzzling to one of
them, who thought that lie had trans
acted all the law business of tho de-
ceased. He got hold Of the mortgage
and brought it to me when I was in
Nashville. I happened to have in my
possession very powerful magnifying
glass that had been presented to me-the
most powerful single lens I have ever
seen. With this 1 examined the mort
gage, and soon discovered that "forty"
had been raised from "four" There
was no mistake about it. could easily
see the marks of chemical erasure, and
the difference, i'll pen and ink, between
the raised and the rest of the instru-
msnt. 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.. Canpbell?"
MIR. Campbell was fidgcting unensily
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
magnities. Now, as 1 look Mt this
'forty'-why, bless me! the same signs
nre visible thnt I saw in my Tennessee
mortgage! think you will he obliged
to drop this, Mr.. Campbell. My Ten
nessee mans name was Alexander Bell,
md he has added Camp to it since he
came to Missouri.
Cnmpbcll, his face red ns flame,
reached out his hand for the document.
II believe 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, nre you? Very we'll; I dom think
you will be molested, if you will leave
this pnrt of the country and never return
to it. 1t is barely possible that the
estate of Philip Nerwin may really owe
you ST., 900. If so, advise yon not to
try to collect the debt, as such an at-
tempt would land you in the peniten-
tiary. Goodnight, Mr.. Campbell, and
farewell" j"
''What is it? What does this mean:
asked Clara, rs Mr. Pierce, rubbing his
hands and smiling. hustled around to
fill his pipe.
Are You so dull, my child? Why,
the fellow is II swindlcr, and has been
found ont. / guessed as much when
first heard OF the atinir, and was sure OF
it when you told me his name. You
will soon he able to pay me my $500, and
then we will straiyhten up mntters.
Thank yon, Mary, y"u are very kind to
give HE !, light"
'Do you mcnn to punish him." asked
Mnry.
1t would hardly ray We could put
him in the pcnitentinry, but You might
lose 81 900 by the job. by trying fol
$40, 600, he hns lost the 81 900 TINT may
have been justly his due. He will be fin
from here by morning, Phavc no doubt
a good riddance to him. All, this is
comfortable. know that 1 feel better,
and hope that you do
The girls were sure that great weight
had been lifted from their minds and
hearts. Alexander Campbell, alias Bell,
dccamped, and Abner Pierce stayed Il
week with the orphans, during which
time he arrnnped all their nffuirS SntiS-