The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-11-10

PA, SATURDAY, NOVEN
n be you. As knew your father we'll and
knew you when you was a boy. thought
could not do better than to put the case in
your hands; I'd at least be sure OF fair
treatment, thought"
"You would be sure Of that at tho hands
Of sny lawyer, to whom you should intrust
YOUR case," said /. "Now, lot rue hear what
il is, and win see what can be done"
"Well, 1t is this. I've worked quite hard
all my life at my trade, and accumulated
scme money-about six thousand dollars,
in feet. haYe seven children should like
to provide for, and it has been my steady
aim to increase my money all could. A
year ago, friend of mine, who is in the
same business am in, told inc il he could
take partner in the spring, and II | should
go in with him, we could make lot of
money. / looked into the matter, and
found he wss not mistaken about it. saw
| could, In few years., increase my six
thousand to twenty thousand, and told
him would he ready Ia join him in the
business when the time came. Meantime,
my money was laying in the bank, where
ought to have left it, drawing five and
half per cent interest.
"Shortly after I made this arrangement
with my friend about the partnership, q
man knew we'll, and had great confidence
in, came to me and asked me TO lend him
the money till should want it nt the end
of the year, and he said he could readily
m" eight per cent. So let him hsye it,and
now it is due and I can't get it back"
"Has he any property"
"Yes--the amount Of it; but have since
understood he's slippery fellow, but had
not known that before"
".But you took his note. surely" said I.
"Yes, but l can't find it; that's what
troubles me. called on him yesterday
and told him So, and he said he had no
recollection Of borrowing any money from
me; il had the note he would pay it; II
hadn't he certainly would not"
"And you can't find the note2"
"No." al
"What did you do with it?"
ar put il in this pocket t-bCok, where
keep all my important papers; but when
came to look for it among some other notes,
and the like, couldn't fnd it,"
lie produced large old fashioned leather
nocketbook, as he spoke, and looked
through 1t, and examined lot of receipts
and not es that were packed together in one
Of its pockets, thinking that two Of the pa
pers might be sticking together.
"There is no promisory note for that
amount here" | said. "6ut what is the
blank sheet of paper doing heres" and | took
up slip oi white paper that found among
the documents.
| al don't know"
"Who is the man that gave you the
note2'
"AiO~auler Bolton, the druggist"
| knew Alexander Bolton we'll. He was
wealthy and penurious, and had the name
of being very tricky. ] was so,i,fiel that
Mr.. Campbell was telling the truth. was
as well convinced that Alexander Bolton
was not man who would be likely to for
get having borrowed such large sum q,
six thousand dollars, and jumped to the
conclusion that he had played some cum
ming trick TO wrong the confliing mechs nit
ont of the fruits of many years Of labor
But what was the trick? That was the
question that puzzled me.
"Hayc you had this pocket. book in Sc
cure place eyer since he gave you the note?'
asked.
dyes; under lock and key, where no ont
could touch 1t but myself"
care you sure that it has been ever since
impossible for any one to find it to purlor
the uote?"
II nn perfectly sure OF that. The loci
of my desk in which | haye kept il is one
made myself. There is but one KEY in thu
world that will open it, and here it is" h,
said, producing from his pocket a brigh
steel key, OF very odd ontline. "Not
thing has ever been disturbed in tha
desk"
l mused few minutes as again casual
ly overhauled the papers, then said,-
"Mr Campbell, don't mean TO say tha
Mr.. Bolton is dishonest, but might he no
have handed you this blank sheet of pspe
and slipped the mite into his pocket. boo
with the money you lent himf"
ono, that is out ofthe QUESTION. exam
ined the note again after reached home
before put the pocket-book away, to sc
that no mistake had been made; found
all right, plain as day in every letter an
figure, aud / remember as we'll as though
had been yesterday; even remember nc
ticing how bright the ink was; ii had quit
reddish tinge."
was in the act OF handing the pocket
book back to HIM, as he said this, but
thought suddenly struck me, and l opene
ID again.
"Mr. Campbell" said carelessly, I'd
you remember whethor the note was file
out on blank form, or not2"
| at was not; he wrote il out in full him
self, on the top Of a piece Of foolscap, an
cut it OF with pair of scissors. remen
Der everything about il very clearly, for
\ was about all had in the world, and TO IT
it was very essential affair"
/ examined the strip of white paper, for
startling idea had already taken shape |
q my mind, and perceived that it had bee
/ cut from the top of foolscap, evidently wit
c a pair Of scissors
e ado you know how you happened
IS place this slip of white paper in here?"
II "No, don't remember placing it ther
is ! might have done 50, thinking il woul