, 1888-09-19
THAT LOST BOND.


my own living. After a good deal of in
quiry and travelling about l fixed upon a
quiet little market town of Barton in
which to begin operations; and, having
taken an Office n engaged an Office boy,
l notified the inhabitants that l was ready
to render them any legal assistance they
might require, by afixing a brass plate on
the door with my name and description In
scribed thereon.
But the good people of Barton seemed
to be either very peaceably inclined or to
be shy of strangers, for six months elapsed
and the business l had transacted had
been practically nil. Meantime, the bal
ance l had placed at the bank on settling
at Barton was rapidly decreasing.
l was sitting In my Office one afternoon
meditating on these things. 1t was a
hot, drowsy afternoon, which seemed to
nave impaired its influence to the inhabi-
tants, for business appeared to be almost
at a standstill. | had Just made up my
mind to leave the office for the afternoon
and nave u little fishing before tea, when
the door opened and my Office boy entered
again. please sir, Mr.. Thomas jackson
wishes to see you" he said.
Mr.. Thomas Jacksonl" | exclaimed in
surprise. D you mean Mr.. jackson, of
Oakfelds farm?'
yes, sir-Farmer jackson, answered
the boy.
"oh, we'll, ask him in, 1 said, unlock,
ing my drawer and pulling out my papers
and pens. Mr.. jackson was a well to do
farmer, and | was awan that he enter
tanned a strong prejudice against law
yers, he having had a disagreeable trans
action with u rather sharp firm of attor-
neys some years ago.
Mr.. jackson entered the room rather
hesitatingly, thought. After exchanging
greetings l motioned him to a chair and
waited for him to inform me as to the
nature of his business. After fumbling
about in his breast coat pocket he drew
out a narrow strip of paper and handed
1t to me. | found it to be n writ issued
by Mr.. Sharper Flint, a money lender at
Barton, against Mr.. jackson, to recover
the sum of Ct, 900, with interest, on a
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" 1 said, looking
up, this is rather a disagreeable docu-
ment, What is the meaning of it,"
well, that's Just what | want to
know, - said Mr.. jackson. II never heard
a word of any such claim before. sup
pose it is some dodge of that r~ascally
Flint to try and get money out of me-"
"fou never heard of any such claim
before" / asked, although the writ
states that the bond was given six years
ago."
Not a word, sir, answered Mr.. Jack
son. Il never dreamed of there being
any such claim until yesterday, when the
writ was served on me-"
u suppose you were acquainted with
your fathers affairs?" I asked.
Yes, sir. We discussed business
affairs together constantly, and it was
very seldom he did anything without con-
sulting me. Indeed, now l remember, he
did speak to me some years ago about
borrowing 81 900, which he wanted for a
temporary purpose, from Sharper Flint,
but | advised him not to do so, as l 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 so large
a sum without letting you know, and
without leaving any trace of it among his
papers. l suppose you AVE been through
his books and papers2"
Yes, sir; | went through them all at
the time probate of the will was granted,
and there is not a trace among them of
any such sum having been borrowed"
We'll, | said, II think the best thing
will be for me to call on Messrs. Crawley
q Fox, Mr.. Flint's solicitors, and see what
they ave to say about the matter, and if
possible get them to show me the pond 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. Crawley & 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 a 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
Il have called to see you about that mat.
ter of Flint VS.. Jackson"
oh, yes" saids 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, land we are naturally
very much astonished at the proceedings
which you ave commenced. My client
informs me that he never heard of there
being such a claim until he was served
with the writ"
You don't say So" exclaimed Mr.
NHNALAS us eyes Will rear OF
well feigned astonishment. Now that's
very extraordinary"
Yes" l said, land before taking anv
steps in the matter my client wishes to
make a thorough investigation into the
affair, and have called to know if you
will let me see the bond"
"Oh, certainly, certainly" said Mr..
Crawley--"no objections whatever" and
going to the safe lie took Tho document
out and handed it to me.
It was a formal bond drawn up In the
usual words, by which ''the said William
Jackson bound himself. his heirs, execu-
tors and administrators to pay the said
Sharper Flint. his executors or admins
traitors, on demand. the sum of 81, 900.
with interest at 8 per cent" and was
signed aud sealed by Mr.. William jackson
n witnessed by Mr.. Winter, his solici
tor. | examined the stamp and looked at
the date of the wnternark on the paper,
but could find nc flaw in the document at
all.
~. Al II. - ~ -.