The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-10-21


Yes, sir" replied Clara. sour law,
yer said that it was plain case against
US, although it was strange that We had
not heard of the mortgage before"
Very strange. What is the name Of
the man who holds it2 f"
Alexander Campbell.''
Hum. A coed name, but bad man
am afraid. When and where can ]
see him ?"
2" he will be here this afternoon" an
swered Clara He proposes, if We will
make him deed of the real estate, tc
give up the bond and mortgage, leaving
our money in bank and the rest of the
personal property"
{. Very liberal. Introduce me to him,
when he comes, as an old friend of the
family, and not as lawyer"
Mr.. Alexander Campbell called in the
course of the afternoon, and was made
acquainted with Abner Pierce, at whom
he looked suspiciously; but his eyes fell
when he met the old gentleman's intent
and piercing gaze. Mr.. Pierce glanced
but slightly at the deed that was offered
for the consideration of the ladies', being
occupied in studying the countensnce
of lhe man in whose favor it was drawn.
can't decide upon it just now " he
said, at last Gas the friend of these
young ladies-standiHg, as 1 may say,
IN loco pGrentis-I must make few in
quiries concerning the value of the prop
erty. Suppose y-u come up after sup.
per, Mr.. Campbell, and suppose you
bring that mortgage with you. have no
doubt but that it is all correct, but would
like to see it."
Mr.. Campbell assented to this, and
withdrew. Abner Pierce filed his pipe
with nervous haste, but also with tobac
CO, and Mary brought him light:
az know that you have some good
news for US" she said. "T can see it in
your eye"
Not bad, my child. I hope and trust
it is very good. A good name, but bad
man, said, and that is true. 1 think I
see my way out of this difficulty, and the
money lent you is safe. But you must
not interfere with me, young ladies, or
be surprised at anything I may say or do,
or object to it. You must trust me, and
let me work in my way"
After supper, when Abner Pierce had
enjoyed another com Portable smoke, and
had conversed with the girls concerning
their mother, as be had known her in
her youth-a subject upon which he
grew very eloquent--Alexander Camp
bell came in, bringing the deed and the
mortgage, both of which he handed to
Mr.. Pierce for examination.
81 have made inquiries concerning the
property" said the old gentleman, "and
am satisfied that it is not worth more
than the amount of the mortgage, and it
would probably bring much less if sold
at foreclosure. Your offer is a liberal
one; but must first look at the mort
gage. This appears to be correct, he
continued. when he had examined the
instrument "It is properly acknow[
edged and the signature is undoubtedly
that of Philip Merwin. I suppose the
young ladies will have to go to the coun-
ty seat to execute the deed"
The girls oountenance fell at 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 obser-
vation in Tennessee. Not that the two
cases are alike, as the Tennessee case
was undoubtedly fraudulent affair but
there was a similarity in the circum-
stances Don't look so down-hearted,
young ladies. What must be, will be
and it is useless to cry about what can t
be helped. As was about to say, man
died in Tennessee, leaving a widow and
one daughter. The widow was about to
administer upon his estate, when q man
presented a mortgage similar TO this and
for exactly the same amount. 1t was ex-
amined by lawyers who we're familiar
with the signature of the deceased, and
pronounced correct Although there
was something strange about the affair,
hey could find no flaw in the instru-
v,aut II xpos parfieu larlv ruzzIinr 70
one of them, who thought that he had
transacted all the law business of the de
ceased. He got hold of the mortgage
and brought it to me when l was in
Nashville. happened TO have in my
possession a very powerful magnifying
glass, the most powerful single lens l
have ever seen. With this 1 examined
the mortgage, 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 in pen and ink, be-
tween the = raised " and the rest of the
instrument. How the rascal got into
the registers Office, don't know; but
the record there had been altered iE the
same way. He ran away, and it was
not considered worth while to follow him
Strange circumstances, wasn't it, Dir.
CampbelI2"
Mr.. Campbell was fdgetiug uneasil y
in his chair, and made no reply.