St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-09-08

~ Denedln the meTc1leSS Scrap'ng 1t
had received. ''I'm agoin' TO see a
lawyer. Got any money!"
"They's six dollars I've saved up
from the eggs and butter
lie me have it.
She went into the bedroom, and,
coming out, handed him the money.
She had saved it to buy new dress
and pair of shoes. The meal over,
Ike walked out, SAYING
''If ketch a ride, I'll be back afore
shutdown; eff don't, it'll be late
He was compelled to walk the
whole of the distance to town. AS
he passed the store where he
traded" he saw further down the
street, sign bearing the legend,
David Keep, Lawyer and Real
Estate Dealer" He found the attor-
ney sitting i'll profound meditation,
his feet folded carefully on the top
of his desk, and his chair tilted
against the wall. A refreshing
breeze blew in at the open window.
1t was cooler here than in the field,
Ike reflected.
"Have a chair. SIR said the
attorney.
Ike sat down awkwardly, wonder
ing how he should begin the business
in hand. He had never had to do
with the legal profession before. A
lawyer, in his eyes, was no common
mortal. He hesitated lest he might
say something terribly out of order.
Anything l can do for you ?"
queried the lawyer.
81 want some advice. How much
will We charge me ?''
1.-The usual fee for consultation is
five dollars"
Ike took out his well-worn and
thin pocket-book, and handed to
the man of law five dollars, saying =
eye see, it's like this. I gin
Fletcher Flint a mortgage on my
bosses an cow an hogs an wagon
last fall. Ye know him, reckon p
a money loaner here in town. 1
couldn't pay it, an he has sent the
sheriff out to my place an took the
last hoof of everything off'n the
place. Is they any law fur that, |
want to know!''
THAT depends upon the conditions
IN the instrument, was the answer.
IF it is the usual form of mortgage,
it gives the lender the right to take
possession of the mortgaged property
and to sell it at any time he may see
fit to do SO. Without taking the
time to go to the court house and
examine the record of the mortgage,
knowing Flint as do, I should say
1t contains these provisions. He
uses no other form"
Then they's no way fur me to git
my property back ~
mo way except to pay the mort
gage debt. Let me see; what rate of
interest did you agree to pay him ?"
"Thirty-six per cent"
"You can bring an injunction suit
to enjoin him from the sale of the
to give bond in double the amount
of the principal which you owe him.
This is the only way you can
determine the question of usury."
''Uv what? '
''Usury; an illegal rate of interest.
The statute provides for ten per cent.
If you can show a contract to pay
more, the court will allow him no
interest at all, and he will be COM
PEELED to pay his own costs and at
torney's fees"
"I'll come in agin in day or two"
said Ike, rising, IAN may be I kin
git somebody to go on my bonds"
ut is difficult thing to do. No
man likes to sign such bond, as the
money loaners and banks refuse to
loan to a man who pleads usury or
helps others to do it,
A refusal from every ore whom he
asked to sign the bond with him
convinced Ike that the lawyer had
told the truth. At his second con-
ference with the attorney, it was
decided that nothing could be done,
and so the property was sold few
days thereafter, Flint himself buying
it for seventv-fve dollars, just half
the debt owing him Ike stood and
listened to the auctioneer offering
his property for sale. He walked up
and patted the horses lovingly.
They seemed to know him, rubbing
their velvet noses against his rough
sleeve.
Make me an offer on the horses, :"
said the auctioneer to him, as he
turned away.
Il can't buy EN-" replied Ike in a
thick voice, as he walked from the
place feeling weak and sick.
"The stuf's all sold, Lise," he said
to his wife, as he sat down in the lit
tie kitchen and watched the flies
crawl over the bare and shining
floor.
"Ain't they no way to gitit agin ~
she asked.
81 CANT make no money without
bosses, an the teams gone. l
wonder how it comes that poor
men il forced to use the money the
rich has, an no other, an to pay
em what they ask fur the use ont !
I don't understand it,"
ice did NOT 1Sun,e1- She