The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1900-12-27

HE BABE MAUDE GOOD
with his hands in his pockets, as much as
TO say: We'll, what about it?"
hatchery, there. is conspiracy in this
matter-eI have been made dupe?"
But the shrewd hatchery kept his hands
in his pockets, his face smiling and serene,
while his pale blue eyes seemed to twinkle
and say:
Il have got you noww But his answer
was really quite different.
How am l to know if there is a conspi-
racy or not, my dear sir? l could not have
known the plans of Gross before he leftr'
But every foot of realty, every dollar of
personal property he had is mortgaged TO
you, and was so mortgaged when he nego-
tiated the last loan, for which l went
surety"
Quite true answered Mr.. hatchery
with tantalizing smile. II loaned him all
the money his property was worth, and
when he wanted more told him he must
get other security. Your name was pro-
cured on his paper | thought il good and
let him have the additional amount"
Mr.. Livingston was a ruined man. The
amount for which he had Endorsed was 50
large that it would take all the property he
owned, including his residence, to pay it.
Mr.. Livingston was q wealthy man i'll
those primitive days, when $4,000 was
worth more than SJ,000,000 now, but he
saw that he was in the hands of the ava
riciOus hatchery and ruin stared him i'll
the face. He was not one to plead for
mercy. yet there were things in this shady
transaction which he felt very much like
Investigating.
Il am sure it was a conspiracy TO pob
me- he declared.
Perhaps Your surmises are correct, Mr.
Livingston" and there was still a smile on
the face Of hatchery, but / cannot help
that. did not inquire what motive Mr..
Gross had in view, nor why he wanted the
money"
AT the time he procured my signature
to his paper | supposed his property clear
of incumbrance, and, large as this sum
was, felt safe, believing him able 10 pay
it all" ~ .,...--...
Mr.. Livingston" said Mr.. Datchery in
his soft, sarcastic manner, you are law
yer and said TO be a shrew man. There
were the records; so far as | was concern
ed, and so far as | know, so far as Mr.
Gross was concerned, no effort was made
to conceal the facts from you. If you made
a mistake, if you neglected your duty,
don't blame me-"
The lawyer, realizing that he had really
been negligent, felt this remark most keen.
ly. He had put such complete confidence
in Gross, and never once suspecting that
he would endeavor TO swindle him or bc
| party to such an effort, had not thought
| to examine the records TO ascertain if his
| property was incumbered. Mr.. Livingston
| had done just what almost any ether MAJ
would have done under like circumstances
| having the utmost confidence in the hon
| eSty and integrity of one whose character
had never before been questioned.
| Il am not here to ask mercy, Mr.. Datch
cry, for l know it cannot be found in thi.
place"
This is square, straightforward bust
ness"
Perhaps il is, but fraud vitiates all con
| tracts, and if find any evidence of frauC
| in this you need expect no quarter"
Very well" and the confident smile o.
Mr.. hatchery signitied his willingness t,
accept the challenge.
Il learn that Gross has gone TO tn,
| West, or the devil, on some chimerica
scheme in which Aaron Burr is chief, an,
that this money was probably TO forwarc
his plans - ~ 81" .-s
Perhaps; / cant say" Mr.. Catcher,
answered carelessly. Il never inquire :
mans motive in my business transactions
unless his motives enter directly into TIL
business transaction itself He wantc,
| the money. 1t was very large sum, bu
| as he had good surety, | accepted ii and le
him have the sum required. There tn
business transaction with me ended'
| MIR. Livingston fixed his eyes on I'll,
shrewd, INSCRIPTIONS man, whose neck Ia
would have liked 10 wiring, then turning
gazed out of the window at the ragin.
tempest. MIR. Livingston knew he was
ruined mana beggar. His elegant homo
towering grand and majestic on the hill
above other houses, as its owner had aboy,
other men, was his home no longer. III,
was a beggar; his wife and children home
less. They who had moved in the highes
circles of society must now sink to Tn,
lowest. Still, he asked no mercy of Datch
cry. The hated hypocrite began to express
his regrets, but the proud Livingston
scorned his sympathy.