The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-08-07
MAS OLD BEAU.

MAS OLD BEAU.
he recent revelations concerning
forgeries at criminal trial at Chi
%, reminded me of an incident that
trred few years ago, in the vicinity
IL Louis, which seems to me to be
3h relating.
lara and Mary Merwin, sisters and
rams, were in the sitting room of
pleasant home on the edge of
age near the Missouri river. Their
hH had been dead for several years,
father had lately died, leaving
su.1k N estate, as they supposed, of the
value of some forty thousand dollars,
but they had learned quite recently the
property was encountered to such an
extent that they were likely to be de-
priyed of it all. This discovery, as may
be supposed, filed them with sadness
and anxiety, and they were seated in
silence, unable to read, to converse. 10
work, TO do anything but brood over
their great misfortune.
While they were thus occupied with
sombre thoughts, buggy drove mp in
front of the house, and . man alighted,
and the buggy drove away.
The man must have been little on
the shady side of fifty, to Judge from
his gay hairs, although his face was
froeh and unwrinkled. He was dressed
with . remarkable neatness, and his
manners indicated briskness as we'll as
precision. In one hand he carried a
small vaiise and In the other an umbrella,
and he stepped. quickly to the door and
rang the bell. In few minutes he was
ushered into the presence Of the young
ladies.
"rm obliged to introduce myself
he said, smiling and bowling in courtly
manner" Abner Pierce. Here is nv
card-professional card. You will per-
ceive that am q lawyer in st. Louis,
and presumably q respectable man.
Don't be afraid I am not here to hurt
you, but to help you. have the honor
to call myself q friend of your family
that is to say, although it Is many years,
since have seen any member of said
family. always had the highest posi-
bic regard for your now sainted mother,
and nothing would please me more than
to be OF some service to her children"
1--WE are happy to meet you" muir
INJURED Clara.
Thank you. happened to hear
no matter how-that You arc in trouble,
and have come mp here in the belief
that can assist you. hope you will
ally an honest man, although q lawyer,
and 1 mean we'll, although I may express
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 well. It is a 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 token
ont letters of administration upon their
fathers estate, when q man Of whom
they had never before heard put in an
appearance and presented a mortgage,
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,
leaving them absolutely penniless.
They had used their credit, but trades
men were becoming impatient, and some
hed refused to supply them any further,
without pay.
"That is q bad CASE" said Mr..
Pierce. "You need money-that isthe
hrst thing to be attended to. You must
Let me act IS your banker until I get
you out Of this sclape, and that won't
% long, I hope. How much do you
More than one hundred dollars"
answered Clara.
The old gentleman counted out two
hundred dollars from q we'll filed
Pocketbook, 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 a way that
she could not help taking it. He &C.
cepted the young ladies' invitation to
make their house his home during his
as there any place where i can
smoke ?" he asked when they had re-
turned to the sittlng-room.
You can smoke here" said the i'm.
Pullve Mary. spa always smoked
here, and We are used to il.
30 he took meerschaum and some
tobacco from his valise, and was soon
pumng away with an air of great con-
tentment.
can think better when smoke, /"
he said. "Did you have any legal adj
VICE in the matter of that mortgage,
Mi.s Merwin?"
"Yes, sir" replied Clara. sour
lawyer said that it was a plain case
against MS, although it was strange that
W had never heard of the mortgage
before"
Every strange. What is the name
OF the man who holds it ?"
Alexander Campbell"
"Hum. A good name, but q bad |
man, I am afraid. When and where
can ! zee him 2"
He will be here this afternoon"
Clara. "He proposes, If we
VIII make him deed of the real estate,
20 give up the bond and mortgage, |
leaving our money in bank, and the rest
d the personal property"
Very liberal. Introduce me to him,
when he comes, as an old friend of the
Esmily, and not as lawyer"
Mr.. Alexander Campbell called in the
course of the afternoon, and was made
acquainted with Abner Pierce, at whom
ne looked suspiciously but his eyes
ell when he met the old gentleman's
intent gaze. Mr.. Pierce glanced but
lightly at the deed that was offered for
of the ladies, being occu.
'ied in studying the countenance of the
nan IN whose favor it was drawn.
cans decide upon it Just now," he
aid, at last. GAS o friend of these
Dung Understanding, as I may say,
y loco p0rentis-I must make q few
Inquiries concerning the value of this
10perty. Suppose you come after sup
or, Mr.. Campbell, and suppose you !
ring that mortgage with you. 1 have !
9 doubt it is sll correct, but would
he to see it,
Mr.. CampbslI asssuted 10 this and j