Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-05-17
MAS OLD BEAU.
How a Rogue was Foiled.

The recent revelations concerning
deed forgeries at criminal trial at
Chicago, remind me of an incident that
occurred few years ago, i'll the vicin-
ity of ST. Louis, which seems to me to
bc worth relating.
Clara and Mary Merwin, sisters and
orphans, were III the sitting-room OF
their pleasant home of village near
the Missouri. Their mother had been
dead several years ; their father had
lately died, leaving them an estate, rs
they supposed, Of the value of some
forty thousand dollars, but they had
learned quite recently that the property
was encountered to such an extent that
they were likely to be deprived of it
all. This discovery, as may be sup.
posed, filled them with sadness and
anxity, and they were seated III silence,
unable to read, to converse, to work, or
to do anything but brood over their
great misfortune.
While they were thus occupied with
sombre thoughts, Il buggy drove UP IN
front Of the house, Il man alighted, and
the buggy drove away.
The man must have been on the
shady side Of fifty, to judge from his
grey hairs, although his face was fresh
and unwrinkled He was dressed with
remarkable neatness, and his manners
indicated briskness rs well rs precision.
In one hand he carried a small vaisc,
and IN the other an umbrella, and he
stepped quickly to the door and rang
the bell LIN few minutes he was ush-
cred into the presence Of the young
ladies.
I'm obliged to introduce myself"
lie said, smiling and bowling in courtly
manner, "Abner Pierce. Here is my
card-professional card. You will per-
ceive | am II lawyer III st. Louis, and
presumably q respectable man. Don't
be afraid: Im not here to hurt you but
to help you. have the honor to call
myself friend Of the family-that is
to say. although it is many years since
| have seen any member Of said fam
ily. | always had the highest possible
regard for yonr now salnted mother, and
nothing would please me better than
to be Of some service to her children.
We are happy to meet YOU muir
INJURED Clara.
Thank you, happened to hear
no matter how YOU arc in trouble
and ! have come up here III the be-
lief that | can assist you. am aetu-
ally an honest man, although Il lawyer,
and ! mean well, although | may ex-
press myself clumsily."
II am free to admit" said Clara,
'that we need assistance, and that we
have not known to whom TO look
for it. Y
Ve.y we'll It is good thing, no
doubt, that lhave come. Now SIT down
and tell me all about 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 man Of whom
they had never before heard put in an
appearance, and presented mortgage,
with bonds included, executed 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
absolutely pennless. They had used
their credit, but tradesmen we're be-
coming impatient, and some had re-
fused to supply them any further with
out pay.
This Il d bad case, said Mr. Pierce.
/" You need money-that is the first
thing to attend to. You must let me
act a. your banker until | get you out
If this scrape, and that won't be long, !
hope. How much do YOU owe y
i" More than one hundred dollars, a
answered Clara.
The old gentleman counted out two
hundred dollars from Well-filled poek-
et-book and handed it 10 her.
For your mothers sake, he said,