Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-04-06
The MORTGAGE Rsleassd.

gathered from the "reminiscences OF the &
knights of the grip. All phases of life q
would be shown up in their brightest ]
and darkest hues, the gay and gro
tesque, the sublime and ridiculous, the :
sad and pathetic events of every day ]
life would be interviewer and comming-
led like the scenes depicted on the
canvas by the magic brush of art.
Your correspondent, while in the
counting room of a large agricultural
implement house In the city of Hast
ings, Nebraska, met a commercial trav-
eler, a resident of the capital city of
the state, who, IN lack of a better
name, we Will call Mr. Smith. He has
for years been engaged in making col
lections for one of the largest nipple
ment houses in the country, and the
following is one among his varied ex-
periences:
The scene opens about eight years
ago with sale of some farming ma
chinery to a Mr.. Martin, who, though |
he owned no real estate, was regarded
as honest and industrious. As usual
the sale was on time and a chatteI
mortgage was given on live stock suffi-
cient to secure the same. When the
note became due it was sent on for col
lection, but to the surprise of all con-
cerned no such person could be found.
Himself and family had vanished and
/ for years no trace of them could be OBJ
tanned. The claim was placed in the
hands of our Mr.. Smith with instruc-
| tiOns to spare no pains or expense IN
hunting the dishonest debtor down,
and to send him to the penitentiary. For
long time he was unsuccessful, but
finally through the aid of the pOstOfice
and other means which would have
done credit to a VidOcq, he located him
in a certain county in Iowa contiguous
to the Missouri river. Procuring a re
QUESTION from the governor of Nebraska
he proceeded to this county to have him
arrested. Securing the services of the
sheriff they searched the county from
one end to the other, but they could
not find their man. He had disappear
, ed as mysteriOusIy as before, and left
no trace. Crestfallen at his want of
success, Mr.. Smith returned to Ne
2 braska only to renew his efforts with
. redOubled zeal. After long time he
again located him in this state, and in
p a county Just opposite the one in Iowa
S where he was formerly supposed to be.
- One morning bright and early our hero
t found himself at the county seat of this
/ county, and procuring a livery The
/ started for the river on whose bank he
had ascertained his debtor lived. Oh
S reaching the river he found himself OF
T a very high bluff, with no road leading
2 to the bottom. He proceeded SOM
I distance along the bluff road, and meet
e ing a pedestrian he inquired where MI
s Martin lived. The man pointed out
e house situated at the foot of the bluffs
d partially hidden by the barren timbe
It and underground, which at any Othe
e season, it being now mid-winter, cOul
q not have been seen from where the
e were. There was no way to reach tn
r. / house but to retrace the bluff rOa
II several miles to one rough and rocky
Y which led down to the river bottom
-e After long and tedious ride he fOun
S. himself before a desOlate looking 10
d house, not far away from the river, IN sue
IS a retired location that it did not seeI
1t at all strange that the man whom b
b. was in pursuit Of, had evaded him fl
is years. He aIighted, secured his team
7, and knocked at the door. A middl
De aged woman, whose care-wOTn face an
a. silvered hair showed the marks TIN
ne trials and troubles more surely brir
Mt than the effects of age, opened tt
r. door and invited him in and placed
chair in front of the huge hre-plac
IA filled with burning logs. He sat dow
s, and enjoyed the warmth of the BLAIR
ed fire after his long cold ride. The lac
n surrounded by a thrOng of children
n various ages and sizes, all coarse
ed dressed, but neat, clean, and health
ce looking, remained standing, with e
as pectant, and excited looks, waiting f
ny him to make known his business.
ed would seem that she had premOniti'
re of what that was, for when he gave
as name and the name of the house
Ill represented, d deathly pallOr Overspre
her face, and she sank fainting to t.
DIV floor. Her Oldest girl, about siXte
lrt wears of age, sprang to the assistance
ms her mother and assisted her to a SCI
nd When she had regained her cOmpOsu
i'm 0Ir. Smith inquired where her husbal
was. and she informed him that he w
about four miles distant cutting COZ
no wood and would not return until eve
MA ing. BY this time he had becOI
IT much interested IN this unfOrtuna
no family, and when Mrs. Martin went
re to tell the history of their adyentm
re- from the time her husband, under
nts stress of adverse circumstances, part
An with their property, which he had
-he right to do, they had lived in cOntint
mo dread of the time when the husba
ore and father would be arrested and tax
IAN to prison. They were. living on
rse other side of the river at the time
in Smith was on their trail in Iowa and
aes once crossed to this state to a more
the cluded place if such were possible
)rk it any wonder that the mind Of t