Wichita eagle., 1888-08-31
THAT LOST BOND.


finished my articles it had become so much
diminished that deemed il advisable to
lose no time IN setting to work to earn
my own living. After good deal of in
Quiry and travelling about fixed upon a
quiet little market town of Barton in
which TO begin operations. and, having
taken an Office and engaged an office boy,
! notified the inhabitants that / was ready
to render them any legal assistance they
might require, BY afiIing brass plate on
the door with my name aud description in
scribed thereon.
But the good people of Barton seemed
TO be either very peaceably inclined or to
be shyof strangers, for six months elapsed
and the business l had transacted had
been practically nil. Meantime, the bal
ance had placed at the bank on settling
at Barton was rapidly decreasing.
was sitting il my Office one afternoon
meditating on these things. 1t was a
hot, drowsY afternoon, which seemed to
have impaired its influence to the inhabi-
tants, for business appeared TO be almost
1t standstil. had just made up my
mind TO leave the Office for the afternoon
and have little fishing before tea, when
the door opened and my Office boy entered
again Please sir, Mr.. Thomas Jackson
wishes 20 see you" he said
Mr.. Thomas jackson" l exclaimed in
surprise. DO you mean Mr.. Jackson, Of
Oakfelds farn?'
Yes, sir-Farrner Jackson, answered
the boy.
'-Oh, well, ask him in, said, unlock
ing my drawer and pulling out my papers
and pens Mr.. jackson was a well 70 do
farmer, and was aware that he enter
tanned strong prejudice against law
yers, he having had a disagreeable trans
action with rather sharp firm Of attor
peys some years ago.
Mr.. jackson entered the room rather
hesitatingly, | thought. After exchanging
greetings | motioned him to chair and
waited for him TO inform NE as TO the
nature Of his business. After fuInhling
about in his breast coat pocket he drew
out narrow strip Of paper and handed
1t to ne | found it TO be a writ issued
BY Mr.. Sharper Flint, q money lender at
Barton, against Mr.. Jackson, to recover
the sum Of e, 900, with interest, on d
bond given by Mr.. William Jackson
father of Thomas Jackson) to the said
Sharper Flint for money lent by him, and
was issued against Thomas Jackson as
executor Of his father, who had died some
two years before.
We'll Mr.. Jackson, said, looking
up, this is rather disagreeable docu-
nent. What is the meaning Of it,"
Well that's just what l want to
know, said Mr.. Jackson Il never heard
q word Of any such claim before. sup
pose il Is some dodge of that rascauy
Flint to try and get money out of me-"
You never heard of any such claim
before, / asked, although the writ
states that the bond was given SIX years
ago?'
Not word, sir" answered Mr.. Jack
Son Il never dreamed Of there being
any such claim until yesterday, when the
writ was served on me"
I suppose you were acquainted with
your fathers affairs'' l asked
Yes, sir. We discussed business
affairs together constantly, and it was
very seldom he did anything without con-
sulting ne. Indeed, now l remember he
did speak to me some years ago about
borrowing &, 200, which he wanted for
temporary purpose, from Sharper Flint,
but | advised him not to do so, as had
no faith IN him; and he told me afterward
that he had decided to take my advice"
Il should think it very unlikely that
your father would have borrowed 50 large
a sum without letting you know, and
without leaving any trace of it among his
papers. I suppose you have been through
his books and papers?'
Yes, sir, | went through them all az
the time probate Of the will was granted,
and there is not a trace among them of
any such sum having been borrowed"
well, | said, Il think the best thing
viii bo for ne to call on Messrs. Crawley
& Fox, Mr.. Fliut's solicitors. and see what
they have to say about the matter, and if
possible get them TO show me the bond on
which they claim"
Yes, / think that would be the best
way" replied Mr.. Jackson; and accord
ingly it was so arranged.
| called on Messrs. CFawley s Fox the
next morning as arranged, and was shown
into the office Of Mr.. Crawley. the senior
partner.
Mr.. Crawley. a withered little gentle
man. was sitting at table Uttered with
deeds, briefs, drafts and the miscellaneous
papers which usually cucumber a solicit
tors table. As / entered he looked up.
Good morning, Mr.. Crawley," l said
81 have called to see you about that mat
fer Of Flint VS.. Jackson"
''Oh, yes" said Mr.. Crawley, leaning
back in his chair and pushing his spec
tacles on to his forehead You are act
ing for the defendant, aren't your
Yes" said, and we are naturally
very much astonished at the proceedings
which you have commenced. Ny client
Informs me that he never heard Of there
being such claim until he was served
with the writ.
You don't say So" exclaimed Mr..
Crawley, opening his eyes with real or
well feigred establishment. Now that's
very extraordinary"
Yes, | said, and before taking any
kteps in the matter my client wishes to
make : Thorough investigation into the
affair, aId have called to know if you
viii let re see the bond"
oh, certainly, certainly" said NJ.
objections Eyhateyer," and
gong 70 tie safe Ia took the document
DIT and handed IL To ne.
II was formal bond drawn up in the i
Usual words, by which the said William
Jackson bound himself, his heirs, e1ecu-
to-s and administrators 10 pay the said /
Sharper tAEt, KS executors or admins 4
traitors, on demand, tie sun Of 1000, .
with Interest ct Pc cent" and was
signed and sealed by Mr.. William Jackson .
and witnessed by Mr.. Winter. his solici- (
tor. IezamiDed the stamp and looked q.
The date Of the Wsgernaark Oh the paper.
bat could to3 no taw IL tie document st /
III.
."YcG y-iu admit said, that il q a
very suspicious Circumstance that NJ.
Flint should never Lcre mentioned the
f.ct CT lis ha-:ng any s1cb bond, and
should not even hsre sppled foc tie IL