Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-02-23
MAS OLD BEAU.

udu uoeU Oodu several ycdlo, tlle1
father had lately died, leaving them
an estate, as they supposed, of the val
ue Of some forty thousand dollars, but
they had learned quite recently the
property was encountered to such an
extent that they were very likely to be
deprived of it ALL This discovery, as
may be supposed, filled them with sad
ness and anxiety, and they were seated
in silence, unable to read, to converse,
to work, to do anything but brood over
their great misfortune.
While they were thus occupied with
their thoughts, a buggy drove up In
front of the house, and a man alighted,
and the buggy drove away.
The man must have been on the
shady side of fifty, to judge from his
gray hairs, although his face was III
deed fresh and unwrinkled He was
dressed with remarkable neatness, and
his manners indicated briskness as we'll
as precision. In one hand he carried
small valise, and in the other an UNI
brella, and he stepped quickly to the
door and rang the bell In few min
utes he was ushered into the presence
of the young ladies.
'I'm obliged to introduce myself"
he said, smiling and bowling in courtly
manner-s'Abner Pierce. Here is my
card-professional card. You will per-
ceiye that | am lawyer in ST. Louis,
and presumably respectable man.
Don't be afraid I'm not here to hurt
you, but to help you. [ have the hon
or to call myself friend of your fami-
ly-that is to say, although it is many
years since / have seen any member
of your family. [ always had the high
mother, and nothing would please me
children"
eve are happy to meet you" MUIR
INJURED Clara
''Thank you. [ happened to hear
no matter how-that you were in
trouble, and have come up here in the
belief that can assist you. [ hope
that you can feel that you can trust
me. [ am actually an honest man, al
though a lawyer, and [ mean well, al
though I may express myself clum-
silly
Il am free to admit" said Clara,
that we need assistance and advice,
and that we have not known to whom
to look for it"
Clara Merwin, who was the elder of
the orphans, and leader in everything,
told how she and her sister had taken
out letters of administration upon
their fathers estate, when a man of
whom they had never before heard,
put in an appearance, and presented
a mortgage, with bond included, exc
cuted 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 absolute
" penniless. They had used their
credit, but tradesmen were becoming
impatient, and some had refused to
supply them any further, without pay
s'That's bad case" 'said Mr. Pierce
s'You need money-that is the first
thing to be attended to. You must let
me act as your banker until [ get you
long, | hope. How much do you owe p
"More than one hundred dollars"
answered Clara
The old gentleman counted out two
hundred dollars from well-flled peck
et-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.a a way that
she could not help taking it. He then
accepted the young lady's invitation to
make their house his home during his
stay, and went into dinner with them.
Is there any place where [ can
smoke" he asked, when they returned
to the sitting room.
:" You can smoke here" said the i'm
pulsive Mary. "Pa always smoked
here, and we are used to it. p"
So he took meerschaum and some
tobacco from his valise, and was soon
putting away with an air of great con-
tentment
CT can think better when I smoke, y
he said. did you have any legal adj
vice in the matter of that mortgage,
Miss Merwin p
eyes, SIR" replied Clara "Our
lawyer said it was plain case against
us, although it was strange that we
never heard of the mortgage before. y
Very strange. What Is the name
of the man who holds it,"
Alexander Campbell"
"Hum. A good name but bad
man, / am afraid When and where can
see him :"
He will be here this afternoon" an
swered Clara Ee proposes, 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.
Very liberal. Introduce me to him,
when he comes as an old friend of the
family, and not as lawyer. !"
MIR. Alexander Campbell called in the
course Of the afternoon, and was made
acquainted with Abner Pierce, at whom
be looked suspiciously; but his eyes fell
when met the Old gentlemans intent
gaze. Mr.. Pierce glanced but slightly
at the deed that was offered for the con-
sideration of the ladies, being occupied
in studying the countenance of the man