Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-08-08
THAT LONG-LOST BOND.

e. II. Shannon, in Good Housek.epino.
THAT LONG-L0ST BOND.
Sharper Flint's Little Scheme, and
Bow It Was Defeated.
had not a large capital when I be-
gan my legal studies, and by the time
had finished my article it had become
50 much diminished that deemed it
advisable to lose no time in setting to
work to earn my own living. After a
good deal of inquiry and travelling
about, l fixed upon the quiet little mar
ket town of Barton in which to begin
operations, and, having taken an Of
flee and engaged an Office boy, mott
fled the inhabitants that l was ready
to render them any legal assistance
they might require, by affixing brass
plate on the door with my name and
description inscribed 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 I b ad
transacted had been practically nil.
Meantime, the balance I had placed at
the bank on settling at Barton, was
rapidly decreasing.
was sitting in my Office one after
noon meditating on these things. It
was a hot. drowsy afternoon, which
seemed to have impaired it's influence
to the inhabitants, for business ap-
peared to be almost at a standstill.
had just made up my mind to leave the
Office for the afternoon, and have q
little fishing before tea, when the door
opened and my Office boy entered
again. please, sir, Mr.. Thomas
jackson wishes to see yor," he said.
':Mr. Thomas Jackson!' exclaimed,
in surprise. ''Do you mean Mr.. Jack
son of Oakfelds farm?''
Eyes, sir-Farmer Jackson" an
swered the boy.
''Oh, well, ask him in," said, un-
locking my drawer and pulling out my
papers and pens. Mr.. jackson was a
well-to-do farmer, and I was aware
that he entertained strong prejudice
against lawyers, he having a disagreea-
BILE transaction with a rather sharp
firm OF attorneys some years ago.
Mr.. Jackson entered the room rather
hesitatingly, l thought. After ex-
changing greetings 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 narrow
strip of paper and handed it to me.
found it to be a writ issued by Mr..
Sharper Flint, money-lender at Bar
ton, against Mr.. Jackson, to recover
the sum of $1,000 with interest, on g.
bond given by Mr.. William Jackson
Gather 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.
''Well, Mr.. Jackson" said, look
ing up, this is rather a disagreeable
document. What is the meaning of
it?n
swell, that's just what want to
KNOW" said Mr.. jackson. II never
heard a word of any such claim be-
fore. I suppose it is some dodge of
that rasc;.lly 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 a word, SIR" answered Mr..
jackson. Il never dreamed of there
being any such claim until yesterday,
when the writ was served on me-"
IL suppose you were acquainted with
your fathers affairsP" asked. il
Eyes, sir. We discussed business
affairs together constantly, and it was
very seldom he did any thing without
consulting me. Indeed, now 1 remem-
Der he did speak to me some years ago
about borrowing 21,OOO, which he
wanted for a temporary purpose. from
Sharper Flint; but advised him not
to do so, as had no faith in him.
nd he told me afterward that he had
1ecided to take my advice "s -
II should think 1t 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. suppose you have
been through his books and papere''
Eyes, 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
Deen borrow