Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-10-15
Volume XXXII.---No. i24c..;:

81 caR4hink better when I smoke"
he said: hDid you have any legal ad-
vice in the matter Of that mortgage,
Miss Merwin % .s
eyes, sir" replied Clara. "Our
lawyer said that it was plain case
against us, although it was strange
that we 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 bad
man I am afraid. When and where
can see him?"
"He will be here this afternoon,
answered Clara. Gle proposes, if we
will make him deed Of the real es-
tttee-tt4-giye up the bond and mort
gage, leaving our m0!i5y III bank and
the rest of our personal property"
every 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 Mr.. Abner
Pierce, at whom he looked suspicious
| ly; but his eyes fell when he met the
old gentleman's intent gaze. MIR.
Pierce glanced but slightly at the
deed which was offered for the con-
sideration of the ladies, being occupi-
ed in studying the countenance of the
man in whose favor it was drawn.
81 can't decide upon it just now,"
he. said. ssI must make a few inqui-
ries concerning the value of this pro-
perty. Suppose you come after sup
per, Mr.. Campbell, and bring that
mortgage with you. | have no doubt
it is all correct, but would like to see
it."
Mr.. Campbell assented to this and
withdrew. Abaer Pierce filled his
pipe with nervous haste, but also with
tobacco, and Mary brought him
light.
"I know that you have some good
news for u.s." she said. 81 can see it
in your face"
'sNot bad, my child. I hope and
trust that 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 mustn't inter-
fere with me, young ladies, or be sur
prised at anything I may 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 conversed with the girls
concerning their mother, as he had
known her in her youth-a subject
upon which he grew quite el09nept=
Alexander Campbell came in, bring
ing the deed aud 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 mort
gage, and would probably bring much
less if sold at foreclosure. Your offer
lis liberal one, but l must first look
at the mortgage. This appears to be
correct" he continued, when he had
examined the instrument. "It is pro-
perly acknowledged, and the sigma
. ture is undoubtedly that Of Philip
Merwin. l suppose the young ladies
will have to 60 to the county seat to
execute the deed"
The girls countenances fell at this
sudden surrender on the part of their
champion.
''This reminds me-" said the old
lawyer, picking up the mortgage again,
sof an occurrence that fell under my
observation in Tennessee. Not that
the two cases are alike, as the Ten
nessee case was a fraudulent affair;
but there is a similarity in the circum-
stances. Don't look SO down-hearted,
Young ladies; what will be must be,
and it is useless to cry about what
can't be helped. AS l was about to
say, man died in Tennessee, leaving
a widow and one daughter. The wi
dow was about to administer upon his
estate, when a man who was unknown
came forward and presented mort
gage similar to this, and for exactly
the same amount. 1t was examined
by lawyers who were familiar with the
signature of the deceased, and pro-
nounced correct.
s.Although there was something
strange about the affair, they could
find no flaw in the instrument. It
was particularly puzzling to one of
them who thought that he had trans
acted all the law business of the de-
ceased. He got hold Of the mortgage
and brought it to me when was in
Nashville. happened to have in my
pocket very powerful magnifying
glass that had been presented to me
the most powerful single lens have
ever seen. With this 1 examined the
mortgage, and soon discovered that
four had been raised to forty. There
was no mistake about it. l could
easily see the mark 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 l 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.. Campbell?"
/ Mr.. Campbell was fidgeting uneasi-
ly in his chair, and made no reply.
s'Here is the glass;" continued the
old gentlemen, taking it from his
pocket, ssand you can see for yourself
how we'll it magnifes. Now, as I look
at this forty why bless me, the same
signs are visible that 1 saw in my Ten
nessee mortgage! l think you will be
obliged to drop this, Mr.. Campbell.
NY Tennessee mans name was Alex
andar Rell and he has added camn