Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-03-27
tCepvrtoht See.srsd Al lstohts Rsssrvedl
Driven From Sea to Sea,
Or, JUST A CARIN.
~ O. O. Po0r.

V4S O04 "A Ay
~ O. O 1ooE. f
and he word pay the man for hn
trouble and ask to be released.
Entering the courthouse he went di-
rectly to the Recorders Office.
The gentleman whom he expected to
meet was already there, and in compa-
ny with the Recorder was looking over
the records.
Without SO much as bidding them
good morning, John Par ons began to
say that he had changed his mind and
wished to be released from his verbal
contract. but before he could make his
meaning un 'erstood the gentleman who
had contracted for the place, said:
''How is this, Mr.. ParsonsP l find q
mortgage on your place. understood
you to say it was clear of all incum-
brances.
'.A-a MORTGAGE
The words came in q whisper from
lips that we're bloodless, which the other
did not notice, Tor his eyes were upon
the volume of records, and he
answered:
Eyes. A mortgage for fifteen hun
dred dollars with intere for six years,
unless it has been paid; making total
of about the amount l was to pay you
for the place. The mortgage seems to
have been given by Mr.. Blake to MIR.
Jones, of San Francisco, and"
But he did not conclude the sentence,
for ut that instant the two men ut the
desk heard groan. and turning, saw
John Parsons fall to the floor as il dead.
They picked him up and laid him on
. bench, and one of them ran for the
doctor, while the other attempted to
pour some whisky down his throat from
. flask.
In . moment he revived. and when
the doctor came running in. followed by
a crowd of business men and idle"s,
was sitting up with his head leaning
upon his hands, his elbows upon his
knees. As the crowd entered he looked
up for an instant and then resumed his
former position, but that instant sufficed
to show to those present face so bag
gard that not one among them all
recognized it as the face Of John Par
sons, the owner of the mountain ranch.
The doctor advanced and laid hand
upon the wrist of the stricken man, as
if to feel his pulse.
Then John Parsons again raised his
head, and with an effort arose to his
feet
at amt no use, Doc" he said, recog-
nizing the ply clan as one who had 81
tended Johnny in his recent illness. sit
amt no use," he repeated, ''it's the
heart that's ailin' an there amt no
medicine that'll do it any good; least
wise nothin' you kin give. The chill
dren is bein' robbed of their home Just
rs their parents has he afore EN-.
and there amt anything left to live fer.
uni, T n 1atf
now that We could all live together
somehow on our own little ranch. but
it pears that it is to be tuck from us
too-though l don't know how it
comes. l have an abstract that got
out of this very office when l bought
the place and it says there weren't no
mortgage onto it then, but now there
pears to he one for all it's wo tn,
an they'll take it of course, an there
AIM no place left where an honest man
kin take lem as is dependent on him.
1t would be better if we was all dead,
an 'spect we will be purify soon.
The railroad companyn turn
Erastus an Lucy out, an the grill
d 9. may be. for wa of a shelter.
when her baby comes to be born, an
her father won't have any shelter to
offer her; fer eff they were mean enough
to mortgage the place and then sell it.
they'll be devils emo Ugh to turn an old
man an woman an a crippled boy out
the minute they want possession.
All this was said in a tone Of voice
and manner that showed, even more
than his words, how terly broken
| and hopeless the man was, and when
he ceas d speaking he staggeI ed again,
and those about him thought he would
have fallen; but he gathered his ener-
| gies. made his way through the crowd,
which opened to let him pass, went to
the stable, and replacing the saddle on
| his horse, mounted him and turned his
face toward home.
The moment he left the Recorder 8
Office, a dozen voices were heard eager
~ demanding to know the details OF
the affair.
The man who was to have bought the
place could tell nothing beyond the
! fact that on examining the records he
had discovered mortgage against il
for about the value of the property.
at seemed strange" he said, THAT
the mortgage should be there and have
escaped the eye, not only of Mr.. Par
sons b mself, but of the maker of the
abstract which he received from Mr..
Blake. There is evidently a mistake
somewhere. Possibly the mortgage has
been pad and thu mortgage has neg
lected to cancel it on the books in thu
office; if so and it can be proved. it car
all be made right yet"
Then somebody suggested that Mr.
Parsons be called back and an effor'
made to ascertain the facts.
1T is a pity to let the old man SUITE,
SO, if it is only mistake and tn
mortgage has been pad" they said
and y half dozen of them started .
once to cal to Mr.. Parsons 10 stay ans
try to lie I'm all the facts. but the Re
corder, who had remain d silent during
the discussion. now spoke:
''It's no use, men," he said, ''th'
mortgage is tn re. and there is n,
doubt but it will take place. unles