The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-06-03
MAS OLD BEAU.
BY CARL BRENT.


ries. at a criminal trial in Chicago, have re-
minded me of an incident that occurred few
wears ago in the vicinity of st. Louis, which
seems to me worth relating.
Clara and Mary Merwin, sisters and orphans,
were in the sitting-room of their pleasant home
ON the edge of a village near the Missouri.
Their mother had been dead several years
their father had lately died, leaving them an
estate, as they supposed, of the value Of some
forty thousand dollars. But they had learned
quite recently that the property was encum-
bered to such an extent that they were likely
to be deprived of it all. This discovery, as
may be supposed filled them with sadness and
anxiety, aad they were seated in silence, una
BILE to read to converse, to work, to DO any
thing but brood over their great misfortune.
While thew were thus occupied with sombre
thoughts, a buggy drove up IN front OF the
house.. and q man alighted, and the buggy
drove away.
This man must have been little on the
shady side of fifty, to judge from his gray
hairs, although his face was fresh and unwrin'
kled. He was dressed with remarkable neat
ness, and his manner indicated briskness as
we'll as precision. In one hand he, carried q
small yalise, and in the other an umbrella, and
he stepped quickly to the door and rang the
bell. In q few minutes he was ushered into
the presence of the young ladies' -,
'1'm obliged to introduce myself" ne said,
smiling and bowing in a ceurtly manner
"Abner Pierce. Here is my card-professslonal
card You will perceive that l am lawyer
in ST. Louis, and presumably respectable
man. Don't be afraid am not here to hurt
you. but to helm YOU. have the honor to
call myself friend of your family; that is to
say, although it is many years since l have
seen any member Of said family, l always bad
the highest possible regard for your now saint
ed mother, and nothing could please me better
than to be of some service to her children
"We are happy to meet you" murmured
Clara.
"Thank you. I happened to hear-no mat
ter how-that you were in trouble, and have
come up here in the belief that l can assist
you. Ihope you will feel that you can trust
me. am actually an honest man, although a
lawyer, and mean we'll, although may ex-
press myself clumsily."
I am free to admit" said Clara, "that we
need assistance and advice, and that we have
not known to whom to look for it.
every we'll. It is good thing, no doubt,
that have come. Now, sit down and tell me
all about it."
phans, and the leader in everything, told how
She and her sister had taken out letters Of ad-
ministration upon their fathers estate, when
man of whom they had never before heard
put in an appearance, and presented a mort
gage with bond included, executed by the late
Mr.. Merwin, upon all his real estate, for the
sum of forty thousand dollars. Not content
with prohibiting them from attempting to sell
anything, he had tied up their money in bank,
leaving them absolutely penniless. They had
used their credit, but tradesmen were becom-
ing impatient and some had refused TO supply
them any further without pay.
''That is bad case," said MIR. Pierce. "You
need money, that is the first thing to be atten-
ded to-. You must let me act as your banker
until get you out of this scrape, and that
won't be long, I hope. How much do you
owe?"
''More than one thousand dollars" answered
Clara.
The old gentleman counted out two hundred
dollars from we'll filled pocket-book, and
handed it to her.
@For your mothers sake," he said, when she
refused to receive it, and he forced it upon her
in such way that she could not help taking
it. He then accepted the young ladies' invi-
tation to make their house his home during
mis- stay, and went in to dinner with them.
"Is there any place where I can smoke ?" he
asked; when they had returned to the sitting
room.
"You can smoke here" said the impulsive
Mary. "Pa always smoked here, and we are
So be took merschaum and some tobacco
from his valise, and was soon putting away
with an air of great contentment.
''I can think better when smoke" he said.
"Did you have any legal advice in the matter
of that mortgage, Miss Merwin?"
sGVos e;r ,arl;od nloro aOur coid
tbatit 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 who holds it 2''
William Campbell"
"Hum. A good name, but a bad man, am
afraid: When and where can see him."
'He will be here this afternoon" answered
Clara. "He proposes, if we will make him a
deed of the real estate, to give up the bond
and mortgage leaving our money in bank and
the rest of the personal property"
every liberal. Introduce me to him when
he comes, as an old friend of the family, and
not as lawyer"
Mr.. Cam mpbell called in the course of the
afternoon, and was made acquainted with Alb
ner Pierce, at whom be looked suspiciously
but his eyes fel! when he met the old gentle
mans intent and piercing gaze. Mr.. Pierce
glanced but slightly at the deed that was offer
ed for the consideration of the ladies, being
occupied in studying the countenance of the
man In whose favor it was drawn.
81 can't decide upon it, just now" he said at
last. GAS the friend of these young ladies'
standing, as may say, IN loco parcntis-l must
make a few inquiries concerning the value OF
this property Suppose you come up after sup
per, Mr.. Campbell, and suppose you bring that
mortgage with you. have no doubt it is all
correct, bat would like to see it."
Mr.. Campbell assented to this and with
drew, Abner Pierce filled his pipe with ner-
vous haste, but also with tobacco, and Mary
brought him light.
81 know that you have some good news for
''Not bad, my child hope and trust that
it is very good. A good name, but bad man,
said and that is true T think see my wau