Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-05
THE LOST BOND.

Messrs. quincy Grafton, OF Lincoln 3 Inn FieIds
who. for the modest premium OF three hundred
puineas. allowed me to SIT In their Office and as
sist them with the work. with liberty 70 pick up
law N the best way could Having duly served
nv time and passed all my examinations was de-
Clartd by the examiners 20 ne a duly qualified
solicitor entitled 20 charge a Zee OF six-andefvht
pence for my advice.
had not a large capital when began my legal
studies. and by the time I had nRlshed my arti-
cles IL had become 50 much diminished that
deemed 10 advisable to lose no time in setting TO
work 20 earn my own living. No doubt the most
prudent course for me would have been to obtain
a situation with a irm OF solicitors. in order 20
gain a little more experience; but was Young and
inexperienced, and in a hurry ~ be rny own mas
Ter. az once began TO look about for q suitable
locality In which TO start business Ca mv own ac-
count. This was a more Difficult matter than
expected I had no connections anywhere, and
therefore had nothing either TO guide or fetter me
in ny choice. London left out OF the question
altogether as being, In my opinion the most difi-
cult place for any one without influence 20 work
upa practice In Every place visited seemed 10
be well supplied with gentlemen learned in the
law. and 20 be In no need OF further additions
However. after a good deal OF inquiry and travel
ing about, fixed upon the quiet little market
town OF Barton IN which TO sin operations;
and, having taken an offce In Church street and
engaged an ONCE boy notified to The inhabitants
that was ready TO render them any legal assist
Rnce they might require, by af1ixing brass plate
on the door with my name and description In
Scrited thereon.
But the good people OF Barton seemed TO be
either very peaceably inclined or 10 be shy or
strangers. for week by week and month by month
went by, TILL SIX months had elapsed. ana the
business / bad transacted had been practically
Nil. the little had done being OF very unremune-
ratfve character. Meantime, the balance l had
placed at the bank on settling at Barton was rap
Idly decreasing the entries in bank book being,
unfortunately, all on the wrong side IN fact,
began 10 think mad made mistake in setting up
Tor myself 80 soon ana that the best thing could
do would be to try and obtain a situation.
Twas sitting In my Office one afternoon medi-
Jating on these things. had been trying to read
''Chitty ON Contracts" but seemed unable TO fix
my mind on anything that day, and the book lay
UNDECIDED on the table before me. BY degrees /
fell into brown study. anu was getting into quite
a gloomy state OF mind, when / was Interrupted
~ the ofiice-boy bringing In the letters These
consisted OF a few bills and circulars, requisi-
lion from the income tax collector TO NIL up the
amount OF nv income during the previous year,
one or two private letters, and last but not least
the Ldic Times. Il soon disposed OF the former
communications, and having opened the journal
OF the Law and the Lawyers" prepared TO refresh
legal world doing the week But fate seemed
against me to-day, for almost the first thing that
caught my eye was an article on 1.-The over;
crow ded state OF the Lesa, Profsssion;' and when
had read, with mOurnlul kind OF interest, an
account OF the alarming rate at which the profess
sion had increased during the last few years while
the amount OF fees, owing 10 the Influence OF re-
cent legislation, was steadily diminishing quite
fession was going 10 the dogs.
threw the paper down in disgust, and walked
10 the v .nfo~ and looked out. IL was a hot,
drowsy sfIern N, which seemed to have impaired
It's influence 1 re Inhabitants for business ap-
peared 70 be Jst az a stand-still. the only per-
sons visit bic ling a few tradeSmen standing at
their = sOssiping with their neighDOrs. or
star.1z .-zIy at the opposite side of the street.
Looking beyond the church, could just catch 4
vision OF green fields and shady trees, with here
and there glimpse or the ryer shining In the sun,
VIII 81 and
stuny by comparison. had just made up my
mind 20 leave the ONCE for the afternoon, and
have a little fishing before tea, when the door
opened ana my onlce-bOy entered again. please,
sir, Mr.. Thomas jackson wishes to see you" he
said
''Nr. Thomas Jacxsonr' exclaimed In sur
Prise do you mean Mr.. jackson OF oakfelds
"YeS sir-FdTmer Jackson answered the boy
ION. well. ask him in."I said, unlocking my
drawer and pulling out my papers and pens,
which had Just put away for the day. / knew
Mr.. Jackson wen by repute. He was a well-to-do
farmer who lived few miles from Barton, and i
Was aware that he entertained a strong prejudice
against lawyers. he having had a disagTeeable
Transaction with rather sharp firm OF attorneys
some Years ago. and It Is believed he would is
soon have thought OF flying as OF having anything
more 70 do with a lawyer. therefore felt consid-
cradle curiosity as 10 what brought me the honor
of visit from him
Mr.. Jackson entered the room rather hesitat-
fLgIy, thought He was a stout, tall man, OF
about forty years OF age, with a pleasant, good
lumored expression Of cOuntenanee; but to-day
1tncied there wss rather an anxious expression on
his face After exchanging greetings, mOtiOned
him 70 a chair on the opposite side of the table,
and waited for him 10 inform me to the nature
OF his business After Iumbling about in his
breast cOaI pocket he drew out narrow strip OF
paper and handed II to me. on examining tits
igund II 20 be a writ issued by Mr. Sharper Flint
nOney-Iender at Barton. against Mr.. jackson TO
recover the sum OF 81 900 with interest on a bond
given BY Mr.. VIM jackson Gather OF Thomas
Jaeksonl TO the said sharper Flint for money
loaned by him, and was issued against Thomas
Jackson Is executor Of his father, who had died
some two years before.
n - n
rather disasreeaele document. What is the
meaning OF it?'
Mr.. Jackson. ~ never heard a word OF any such
claim before. suppose 1t Is some dodge OF that
Tascany Flint 70 Try and get money out OF me-"
You never heard OF any such claim before" I
asked, although the writ states that the bond
was given six years agO?"
Not word, sir" answered Mr.. Jackson. AZ
never dreamed OF there being any such claim
Gntil yesterday, when the writ was served on
me-
Il suppose you were acquainted with your
fathers arairs:- asked
"ies, sir. We discussed business affairs together
constantly, and IL was very seldom he did any,
thing without consulting Inc. Indeed, now / re-
member he did speak To me. some years ago, about
Borrowing $1,000, which he wanted Tor a tempo
rary purpose, from sharper Flint, but advised him
hot To do 80, ~ had faith in him; and he told
me afterwsrd that he had decided TO take my adj
1T certainly does seem strange,"I said 81
should think IL very unlikely that your father
ting you know, anu without leaving any trace OF lt
among his papers 1 suppose you have been
tGrUuyh his books and papers?"
YES. sir; went through them all at the time
probate OF the VIII was granted, and there IS not
a trace among them OF any such sum having been
borrowed
-weI,"I said, ave are completely in the dark
about II az present, and have no materials 10 20
upon In advising you what course 10 pursue I
Think the best thing Will be for me 10 call on
Ncssrs- Crawley & Fox, Mr. Fiints solicitors,
ana see what they have 10 say about the matter.
and II possible. get them 10 show me the bond on
NiAich they claim"
Yes. think that would be the best way re-
pied M Jackson; and accordingly IL was ar
ranged that should see Nes<rs Crawley & Fox
The next morning. and that Mr. Jackson should
cal on me In the afternoon, when could further
discuss matters
called on Messrs. Crawley q Fox the next
morning a. arranged, and on mentioning my
business, was shown into the once OF MI Craw-
Icy, the senior partner, who, was informed had
TIE conduct Of the business
M Crawley. a withered little gentleman with
TIE orthodox OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES face was sitting
al taDic Uttered with deeds, briefs, drafts and
LIE miscellaneous papers which usually cumper a
SOLICITORS table As entered he looked W.
-IsOud-tnOrning, Mr.. Crawley," said Il have
called 70 STE yOu about that matter OF Flint agt
J1cS-On-"
"On yes," said Mr.. Crawley, leaning back in his
c4iI and pushing his specJacles ON TO his fOrsr
u. al You are acting for the defendant, aren't
yUugr
Yes said; sand we are naturally very much
astOnished az the proceedings which YOU have
CJuinencrd- Ny client informs me that he never
heard d there being such a claim until he was
s-rsed with the writ