Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-07-14
The Missing Deed.

"Three hundred pounds reward
Lost, parchment document, being an
Indenture of Mortgage, dated the 18th
day of February, 1916, made between
Henry Fortress of the first part, Ralph
Howard and Fred Pollock Of the second
part, William Henry Austin and Emily
Austin his wife. of the third part, and
Thomas Burt and Sidney Forrest Dy-
sart of the fourth part. Whosoever shall
bring the same to the Office of Messrs.
Sharpe & Floyd, Solicitors, of No. SO
Bedford-row shall receive the above re-
ward"
"No. Mr.. Morpeth I'm sorry to say,
no newa whatever-''
The speaker was Mr.. Sharpe, the Sc
nior partner of the firm of Sharpe &
Floyd, whose advertisement, as above,
had appeared at intervals in all the lead
ing newspapers during nearly six months
prior to the date of our story. Mr..
Sharpe was seated in his special sanctum.
On the opposite side of the table sat a
middle aged gentleman. whose look of
eager anxiety and nervous haste was in
striking contrast to the placid self-pos-
session of his solicitor. Mr. Morpeth's
impatience scarcely gave him time even
to remove his hat or gloves before he
broke out with the anxious question:
"Well, Mr.. Sharpe, any news of the
missing deed 2" and received the reply
above quoted.
"But, good Heavens my dear sir,
in another fortnight the cause comes on
for hearing What on earth is to be
done 2"
alt will be uphill work, grant; but
as our leader, Mr.. Brass, told you in
consultation last week, the case is by no
means hopeless. 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 exclu-
sively that of interested parties; and.
considering the very large amount that
is at stake, that is point the other side
will naturally make the most of.
mo doubt they will that is just
what makes me frantic and you talk of
it 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 l and poor dear wife the very
soul of honor. should have to stand up
in the witness-box, and be insulted with
insinuations that we are swearing false
ly for the sake of few thousands. l
really believe it would almost kill my
wife, Mr.. Sharpe, at any rate We will
make one more effort. Put in the ad-
vertisement again-every day until the
trial come off: and make the reward FIVE
hundred pounds"
Mr.. Sharpe shrugged his shoulders.
''It won't make any difference, you
may rest assured; but as the reward is
not likely to be claimed. it doesn't mat
ter much whether you offer three hundred
or ive."
He touched the bell and took up the
Times, which lay upon the table. A
smart young fellow entered in answer to
his summons, and he continued, handing
him the paper:
"Here, Halliday, copy out this adver-
tisement again, but make the reward
five hundred pounds instead of three
and then take it round to the advertising
agent, and ask him to insert it in all the
dailies for the next fortnight. Well
try the experiment. at any rate. Mr..
Morpeth; but I'm afraid l can't encour-
age you to hope much from the re-
suit"
Tom Halliday was copying clerk and
messenger in the office of Messrs. Sharpe
& Floyd. He was just two-and-twenty,
wrote capital hand. had a capital ap
petite. and earned eighteen shillings a
week; which. till lately, had suficed fol
his moderate needs. We say till lately
for, some few months previously, Tom
had. in rash moment, fallen in love
His sweetheart was the daughter of q
worthy widow, who was care taker, OF
"laundress," for certain house il
Chancery-lane, in which Sharpe & FloyG
had formerly rented Offices. Hence Tom
acquaintance with Mrs. Moyse and hel
daughter. Bessie Moyse worked as {
milliner at shop in Regent Street. anG
it was an understood thing that wher
Tom and she had saved up money enough
to furnish two rooms, they were to b,
married. On Saturday afternoons tn,
young people were in the habit of takins
long walks together, followed by a te;
at Chancery-lane-a festive ceremon,
which was only marred by the presenc
Of uncle Keckwidge, an aged relativ
who resided with Mrs. Moyse. 1t wa
a family tradition that uncle Keckwidg
had beed rather fascinating dog in hi
day; but he was now very infrm, no
. to say childish. He was very deaf, and
as rule, understood little or nothing 0
, what was going on around him: but b
f every now and then caught one half of