Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-12-19
THE MISSING DEED.
And u Valuable Pot Of Jam.

TTHREE HUNDRED POUNDS REwARD.-LosT, a
l. parchment document, being an indenture Of
made between Henry Fortets of the nrst part, Ralph
Howard and Frederick Pollock Of the second part,
william Henry Austin and Emily Austin, his wife Of
the third part and Thomas Burt and sydney Forrest
Dysart Of the fourth. whoever shall bring the same
to the Office of Msssrs Sharpe Floyd, solicitors, Of
No. 20 Bedford low, shall receive the above reward
No Mr.. Morpethi am sorry to say, no
news whatever"
The speaker WAS Mr.. Sharpe, the senior
partner of the firm Of Sharpe a Floyd, whose
advertisement as above, had appeared at in
teryals in all the leading newspapers during
nearly six months prior to the date Of our
story. Mr.. Sharpe was seated in his special
sanctum, to which none but the more i'm
portant clients of the firm were admitted
On the opposite side Of the table sat mid
die aged gentleman, whose look of eager anx-
ioty and nervous haste was i'll striking con-
trast TO the placid selfposso ssion Of his solic-
itor. Mr.. Morpeth's impatience scarcely
gave him time to remove his hat or gloves
before ere he br9ke & oqt With the anxious question
deed :" and received the reply above quoted.
But, good heavens my dear sir, in an
other fortnight the cause comes on for hear
ing What ON Garth is to be done?"
I'VE can apply for an adjournment if you
like but, of course, it is only putting off
the evil day. You know my opinion about
the matter"
That the deed is no longer in existence ?
| can't IOHt believe it. At any rate, let
US make another trial. / would willingly
give a thousand if it could only be recov-
cred"
Quite hopeless, my dear sir. You have
already increased the reward from El0O to
G3OO. If the deed was still in existence the
holder would have been only too glad to re-
store il for fifth part of such reward You
may make up your mind that it has been de
stroyed, either purposoly or accidentally
cannot say which, and don't like to conjec-
ture; but in any case you may rest assured
that the reason it is not produced is, that it
is beyond production in fact, that it no
longer exists
1T is all very well for you to talk in that
philosophical manner but how on earth are
we to prove our case without it =
1T will be uphill work, l grant but, as
our leader, Mr. Brass, told you in consulta-
tion last week, the case is by no means hope
less. The deed being lost, and no copy in
existence, parole evidence will be admissible.
The difficulty is (and it is no use mincing the
matter), the evidence in question will be ex-
clusively that of interested parties and, con-
sidering the very large amount that is at
stake, that is a point the other side will nat
urally make the most of"
mo doubt they will that is Just what
drives me frantic, and you talk of II as calm
ly as if you were discussing the telephone, or
the last new planet. | know and you know,
that my cause is just and right To think
that and my poor wife, the very soul of
honor, should have to stand up on the wit
ness box and be insulted with insinuations
that we are swearing falsely for the sake of
F.,,
blood boil to think of it. feel almost in
clined to say that | will give up the whole
thing rather than face such a horrible or
deal"
Nay, my dear SIR" said Mr.. Sharpe,
alarmed at the threatened collapse of a prom
Using litigation, that would never do. To
give in at this stage would be tantamount to
an admission, with most people, at any rate,
that you had no case all along. No, no you
must try tho fortune of war. The first strug-
gle will not be final in any case. II you are
beaten, of course you will carry the case to
the Court of Appeals and know the other
side intends to do so, if We are fortunate
enough to get the best of it,"
"A second chapter of torture" groaned
Mr.. Morpeth. II really believe it will al
most kill my wife. l tell you what, Mr.
Sharpe, at any rate we will make one more
effort. Put in the advertisement again-ev-
cry day until the trial comes of, and make
the reward $500.
Mr. Sharpe shrugged his shoulders.
1T won't make any difference, you may
rest assured but as the reward is not at all
likely to be claimed, it does not matter wheth-
er you offer three hundred or FIVE"
He touched the bell and took up the Times
which lay upon the table. A smart young
fellow entered in answer to his summons,
1. L. -. a.
Here Halliday, copy this advertisement
again, but making the reward e50O instead of
three and then take it round to the adver-
tising agent and ask him to insert it in all
the daiies for the next fortnight. Wen try
the experiment at any rate, Mr.. Morpeth
but am afraid l cannot encourage you to
hope much from the result"
at is forlon hope, Mr.. Sharpe, do ad-
nit but / won't lose even shadow of
chance if / can help it. II it only brings
back the deed, 1 shall regard my $500 as ex-
Il. I'll