Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1898-12-22
CHAP. III.

the events last recorded l was sitting
alone in the Office when there came a
gentle tap az the door, and moment
later my cousin lsabal entered looking
pale and worried. The past few months
had made great changes in the circum-
stances Of the Hamilton family. My
uncle, who had been regarded as by far
the richest man in LalSeyille, had been
induced to embark in unwise business
venture, and almost his entire fortune
had been swept away. At the time Of
which write l was his legal advisor,
and was trying my best to assist him in
saving something from tho ruins.
Rightly divining that Isabel had come
on some errand connected with her
fathers affairs, led tho way to my
private Office, whore we would be
secure from interruption, and placed
chair for her.
"Well cousin, what news?" asked,
rs she seated herself
For answer she placed in my hand a
telegram dated at Boston, and directed
to my aunt, which read as follows
''If deeds of homo property are not re-
corded have it done at once Creditors
understand that it is mine, and propose
to levy.
ANDREW HAMILTON.
"'You know" said Isabel, when had
read the telegram, 'that when father
went into that wretched business in
Boston he borrowed SIS, 900 OF naming
money which she inherited from grand
fathers estate"
nodded.
"Well, at the time she let him have
the money he insisted on deciding her
all his real estate here, including the
house in which we live. She said that
1t was nothing more than right that he
should ensure her against loss, and that
no matter what happened we could feel
sure Of home. When the papers we're
made father decided to me and / to
mamma, as he said there was supposed
to be sone legal reason why husband
could not transfer real estate directly to
his wife"
81 remember the transaction" / said,
81 wrote the deeds and Ivan went to your
house to take the acknowledgements"
''Father was called away on business
afternoon Che writings were made, con
tinucd Isabel, ''and he gave mother in
structions to have the deeds sent down
and recorded at once. Mother neglect
cd to attend to the matter and now the
papers are lost"
"lndeed this is a serious matter" said
/ gravely, sit your fathers credit tors
serve an attachment before those deeds
are recorded you will undoubtedly lose
vour home. Tell me, if you know, how
the loss occurred.
She then proceeded with her story
which was briefly as follows; Upon re-
Ceiying the telegram from her father
she and her mother proceeded to search
for the papers and at last found them in
a desk in the library. Isabel was get
ting ready to carry them to the regis
ters Office when dob Eldridge was shown
in. The meeting between him and lsA-
bel was naturally somewhat onstrained
as he had not visited the house since the
evening of his rejection some three
wears before. After an awkward pause
Mr.. Eldridge introduced his business by
presenting note from Mr.. Hamilton,
the contents of which were as follows:
IsABEL-Please doliver to Job Ell
arldge tax receipts ON property OF his
in Boston tor the years 1873, 1879 and
1850. You will find them in the upper
left hand drawer OF my safe"
They proceeded to the library and Is
abel opened the safe, but could find on.
lv one of the receipts in the place des'
ignated in the note. A long search
brought tho others to light in another
mart of the safe, where they had doubt
less been put by mistake, and Mr. Ed
ridge took his documents and departed
A few moments later the deeds were
missed.
~ II hurried down town after him anC
caught up with him just as be reached
his store,,' said Isabel Upon my tell
ing him thai / was afraid / had handed
him. the wrong papers by mistake h'
examined his pockets, but brought Il
light nothing but the receipts. He in
ouired if the papers were of much i'm
portance, and, when l told him the,
were of great value to US, expressed
much concern and offered TO 60 back &
the house with me and assist us in far
ther search. OF course, declined hi
offer, for, n spite of his words, Ralph
/ believe that man has the deeds, an
that il by keeping or destroying ther
he can injure US ne will do So al
though be has been on apparenl
friendly terms with papa Of late, knol
he hates us all"
"What opportunity did he had to pul
loin the deeds while he was In the Il
brary with you?" ! asked.
"None," she replied: "he was sittin
on. the opposite side Of the room while
was looking for the receipts. ha
both deeds in my hand when l went II
and put them on the top OF the sat'
When found the first receipt place
that there, too. As soon as i found th
Others handed them all to him togetl
er, and it must be that In my nerYou
haste-for I was very anxious 70 get
the registers ofice-I gave him th
deeds With the other papers. l can a.
count for their disappearance In no OF
or way
sDoubtless you are right" j sai
s'and know your old suitor too well
thiuk that be will hesitate 70 use 81
weapon that you have unwittngly pla
"a ir als hands However, some way
sircumvent him may be- found