The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-07-19

:
Alas! said Sab. "why do you thus exclaim!
Eetter or not-bOth stories are the rame!''
Joel Benton. IN -iIpietOns Journal.
THAT DEAD LETTER.
CHAPTER I.-EIRE AND THIEF PROOF.
Dinner. hour in the manufacturing town
of Middleton. upon.Irk hot summer
day. We are an energetic and thriving
community at Middleton, although you
might not think it just now, when our
streets ale all deserted, and everybody is
engaged in hard feeding. 1t is no fault of
mine that am not among the every body.
A reremptorv engagement retains me at
my post. expect my Uncle Henry on
business Of importance, for which he has
chosen the dinner-h0ur, when no one is
about.
My obligations to Uncle Henry are so
great that his wishes are law to me, even
when they involve the sacrifice of my din
ner. He has been my guardian and my
best friend. BY his help have been able
to set up on my own account as q solicit
tor, and, through his influence, hope
eventually to he provided with respect
able practice. He is thriving merchant
of our rising town, and one of the best fell
lows in the worlo, enterprisine and spccu.
lativc-perhaps rather too much of the last,
but there is cool confidence about him
that generally brings him out right in the
end. He has no children of his own, but
has another ward, niece of his wife,
one Kate Brown. between whom and my.
self, l may tell you, exists an attachment
of long standing. When my practice
brings in sufficient income, Kate and I
are to be married.
Something in my uncle's step upon the
stairs gave me kind of presentiment of
coming misfortune He came in and
threw himself into a chair, fur e his hat
upon the floor, and wiped his face with
his handkerchief. an unaccustomed air of
WEAKNESS and chagrin upon his face.
"All we'll at homer" l asked. "Aupt
all right, and Kate:"
He nodded in an distracted way, and
flung telegram across the table to me-
1t was from his London correspondent !:
"Gillies & Co.'S acceptances returned /:
regular smash everybody connected with
them will come down."
remarked calmly. that it was q very
good thing that he was not connected with
them.
But am, Jim, worse luck - he said /;
3" VIC were operating in cotton together for
. rise, and they have drawn upon me for q
big figure"
felt that this was bad news, and did
not know what to suggest. But presently
Uncle Henry frightened up, and went on
to say that, although this would no doubt
hit him hard, yet he could weather it as
long as his connection with the bankrupt
firm was unknown. The bills that were
now maturing, drawn upon him by Gillies
4 Co., were payable in London. He must
raise flO, 900 10 meet them, and this at
once, and with the utmost secrecy. He
could do this easily enough On the secur-
ity Of the title. deeds Of the property he
had in the town and neighbOrhOod; his
banker would advance the amount at once,
but he did not want TO 60 to his banker.
He would not have it known for the
world that he was raising money on his
property. Better pay heavy percentage
for the loan, and deal with mouey. lend
or unknown to the world of commerce.
Could find him some one to advance the
money at once on these securities?
1t was not without embarrassment that
replied that l thought could put my
hand on such a person at once. Some
time before in my hot and foolish youth
had been led into betting good deal on
races, and losing, one Liverpool meeting,
a good deal more than / could pay, was
recommended to money. lender-One Bot
Hargreaves, of Howbent-who had re-
licved my pressing necessities at sufii.
GENTLY exorbitant rate of interest. Uncle
Henry had subsequently, very generously
paid off all my debts without asking any
questions, only exacting from me prom.
Use to abstain from such courses for the
future. Pob. it was we'll known among
the initiated, could find money to any
amount if he could see his way to good
profit, and had no doubt that he would
Jump at the prospect of getting both q
high rate Of interest and unexceptionable
security.
Hargreaves was an eccentric kind Of
man, nominalIy tailor, living the life VI
recluse, and nervously apprehensive o.
having it known that he had any money
ut all of his own. There was NO fear o.
any want of secrecy on his part. He die
not bear the best character in the world
it is true, and it was said that he had &C
quired his money in . way that woult
hardly bear investigation. But, then, you
don't ask the character of man who L
going to lend you 10000. l telegraphet
to Hargreaves to come over and see me
and the next morning, at the appointed
hour, l heard tremendous humping o.
the stairs, as If a heavy beJstead or some
thing of the kind were being DRAGGED up
Presently the door was CAUTIOUSLY he'll
aiar, and q wizened face appeared in tn
opening.
Seeing that was all alone, Bob for h
it was-whisked dexterously into tn
room, encountered as he was by crutcll
handled stick in each hand, and brass
bound wooden clogs on his feet. Tn
amount of timber he carried accounted 10
the noise up the stairs.
"Well, I'm here to oblige you, Maste
Turner; but if it's brass you want, you'll
bear in mind I'm poor man"
Then you are no good to me-" Ire
way you came"
Aye, but can get q bit Of mone
sometimes. thou knows. There's man,
thinks deal of Bulb Hargreaves. But :
this minute, I'd take my Bible oath an
worth nothing but what I carry on m,
back"
According to appearance that WAs yer
little, for he was dressed In threadbaf
clothes Of . dirty snuff brown color
patched and mended, and that would hay
advantageously borne still more patchin
and mending. A greasy black cloth C.
was On his head, and the only solid thin
about him was . heavy cewskin waistcoaI
weather. y ~
After chaffering awhile-for Bob's in
pecuniosity was only assumed 10 justif
higher percentage consented TO iin
the money-at 8 per cent. for thre
months-down upon the nail. While
was sway to ct Tie money, I ssat Il