Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-03-15
filed pocket-book and handed il

| cOr your mOtners SAKE, III
said, when she refused to receive
it, and he forced it upon her il
such a way that she could not helT
taking it. He then accepted thu
young lady's invitation to make
their house his home during hi:
stay and wentin in to dinner with them
as there any place where car
smoke Z" 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 used to it,
So he took meerschaum and
some tobacco from his valise, and
was soon putting away with an ali
of great contentment.
81 can think better when I smoke, I"
he said. "Did you have any legal
advice in the matter of that mort
gage, Miss Merwin p
"Yes, sir" replied Clara. "Our
lawyer said it was plain case
against US, although it was strange
that we never heard of the mort
gage before.
"Very strange. What is the
name of the man who holds it r.
alexander Campbell"
"Hum. A good name, but bad
man, / am afraid. When and where
can l see him 2"
"IIe will be here this afternoon"
answered Clara. Gle proposes if
we will make him deed of the
real estate, to give up the bond
and mortgage, leaving our money
in the 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 q
lawyer"
Mr.. Alexander Campbell called
in the course of the afterooon, and
was made acquainted with Abner
Pierce, at whom he looked suspic-
iously; but his eyes fell when he
met the old gentleman's intent gaze.
Mr.. Pierce glanced but slightly at
the deed that was offered for the
consideration of the ladies, being
occupied in studying the counte-
nance of the man in whose favor it
was drawn.
81 can't decide upon it just now,"
he said, at last. "As friend of
these young understanding, as /
may say, IN loco pdrentis-I must
make a few inquiries concerning
the value Of his property. Sup
pose you come after supper, Mr..
Campbell, and suppose you 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. Abner Pierce filed
his pipe with nervous haste but al
so with tobacco, and Mary brought
him light.
al know that you have some
good news for u.s." she said. 81
can see it in your face"
"Not bad my child. A good
name, but q bad man, l said, and
it is true. | think l sec my way
out of this difficulty, and the mon
ey that ] lent you is safe. But you
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 own way"
After supper, when Abner Pierce
had enjoyed another comfortable
pipe, and conversed with the girls
concerning their mother, as he had
known her in her youth-a subject
upon which he grew quite elo-
Alexander Campbell
came in, bringing the deed and
mortgage, both of which he hand
ed to Mr.. Pierce for examination
81 have made inquiries concern
ing the property" said the old gen.
tleman, "and am satisfied that it is
not worth moro than the amount
Of the mortgage, and would proba-
bly, bring much less if sold at q
Your offer is a very
liberal one, but ] must first look at
the mortgage. This appears to be
correct" he continued, when he
had examined the instrument. at
!, all properly acknowledged and
the signiture is undoubtedly that
of Db;lip Nar,r;p ouD,osa tha