Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1888-08-02
THAT L0NG-LOST BOND.
Sharper Fiint's Little Scheme, and
How 1t Was Defeated.

had not a large capital when I he
gan my legal studies. and rs the time
l bad finished ms article n had become
80 much diminished that | deemed il
advisable 10 lose ~ time IN setting ~
work to earn my own living. After a
good deal Of inquiry and travelling
about. fixed upon tho quiet little mar
ket town 81 Barton IN which to begin
Operations, and. having taken an Of.
flee and engaged an office hoy. | notl-
hed the inhabitants that | was ready
To render them any legal assistance
they might require. by afH king n bras.
plate on the door with my name and
description Inscribed thereon.
Buttho good people Of Barton seemed
to b. either very peaceably inclined.
or to be- shy OF strangers. for six
months elapsed. and the business had
transacted had been practically nil.
Meantime, The balance I had placed mt
the bank on settling at Barton. vas
rapidly decreasing.
| WIS sitting in my Office one after
noon meditating ON these things. 1t
was a hot. druwsy afternoon. which
seemed 10 have impaired it, influence
to the inhabitants, for business APP
peared 70 be almost at a ~,tandstill. |
had Just made up my mind to leave the
Office for the a~fternoon. and have a
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.
MIR. Thomas Jackson / exclaimed.
in surprise. DO you mean Mr.. Jack
son Of oakheld- farm2-
Yes, sir-Farmcr Jackson" an
swered the boy.
"Oh. we'll. ask him in. I said. I'M
locking my drawer and pulling out ms
papers and pens. Mr.. jackson was a
well-to-do farmer. and | was aware
that he entertained "A strong prejudice
against lawyers b. having adistgr,sa-
bic transaction with "a rather sharp
firm Of attorneys some years age.
Mr. jackson entered tile room rather
h~esitatingiy. | thought. After ex-
changing greetings | motioued him to
a chair and waited for him 10 inform
me As to the nature of his business
After fambliHg about in his breast
e~oat-pocSet he drew ont a narrow
strip Of paper and handed il TO me. |
found II to BE- "A writ issued nv Mr..
Sharper Flint, a money-Iender al Bar
Inn AaFvHR.H NJ I-aN--.-
the sum Of ft.oo0 with interest. on a
bond given BY Mr.. William jackson
Gather Of Thomas Jacksou) to the
said Sharper Flint for money lent by
him. aud was issued against Thomas
Jaekson AZ executor Of his father. who
had died some two years before.
Well, Mr.. Jackson I said. look
ing up. this Is rather a disagreeable
document. What Is the meaning Of
it?7
We'll. that's just what | want to
know said Mr.. jackson. Il never
heard a word Of any such claim be-
fore | suppose ii is some dodge OF
that rascally Flint to try aud get
money out 81 me
"fou never heard 81 any such claim
before. asked. although the writ
states that the bond wa 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 afairs2- / asked.
Yes. sir. We discussed business
affairs together constantly. and it was
very seldom h. did any thing without
consulting me. Indeed. now | remem-
Der he did speak to me some years ago
about borrowing EI.O00. which he
wanted for a temporary purpose. from
Sharper Flint; but | advised him not
to do 80, a had no faith in him.
me he told me afterward that he had
decided 20 take - a
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. Isuppose you have
been through his books and paperg7
Yes, sir; | vent through them all
at the time probate a. the viii was
granted. and there B, not a trace
among them Of any such sum having
been borrowed
We'll, lsaid. .Ithink the best thing
will BE- for m 70 call on Messrs. Craw-
ley n Fox, Mr.. Flint's solicitors. and
see what they have 20 sag about the
matter, aud, 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 ac-
cordingly Il was 20 arranged.
called on Messrs. Cruwley x Fox
the next morning as arranged. and
was shown into the Office Of Mr. Crtw-
ley, the senior partner.
Mr. Crawlew. a withered little gen