The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1905-11-03
THE MYSTERIOUS NOTE.

= WAS a harum-scarum youth. and
for the first dozen years of my
manhood had no settled aim.
started out as clerk in a country
store, then l became a school-teacher,
next clerk In a drug store, where
learned many chemical mysteries;
finally became a law student and It
was my knowledge of chemistry-a
science Of which l am passionately
fond--that gave me a start as law
student
My single had been hung out for
four or FIVE months, and yet had not
had single brief to prepare. What
little money l had possessed after my
studies were completed was rapidly
melting away, and l could not ignore
the fact that If no fees should come
in my way for a couple Of months
should have to go on the street or on
the prairie for living. 1t would be
no disgrace, to be sure But when one
has spent his little all in preparing
himself for professional life, and
when he has set his heart and hopes
on such 4 life, 1t 10 sad to have to
abandon it.
was seated in my once one fore
noon, INDUCING in certain gloomy
thoughts on this subject when the
door opened and 4 middle aged man In
humble garb came In, and recognized
him at the first glance a. An industr1-
Gus and honest machinist named
Campbell. a former neighbor Of my
fathers, who was dead. He was dur
ried and nervous, and saw At once
that there was something wrong
Woodworking. Mr.. Campbell" said
I. How did you happen to find tho
ONCE Of q poor young lawyer like msl"
by accident" he said. Il am in
trouble, and II don't got out Of It
an ruined. All the savings Of my life
will be gone unless 1 can fnd some
lawyer smart enough to defeat the ras-
cality Of certain man, and was 10
ing along. intending to call on the frst
lawyer l should see, and it happened
to be you. Az 1 knew your father
we'll, and used to know you when you
were boy, thought could not do
better than to put my case in your
hands; I'd at least be sure of fair
treatment, l thought"
"You would be sure Of that at the
hands Of any lawyer to whom you
should intrust your case" said 1.
Nov let me hear what it is and I'll
see what can be DONE"
"Well, it's this. I've worked hard
All my life at my trade and accumu-
lated some money-about six thousand
dollars, in fact. have several chill
dren l would like to provide for. and
1t has been my steady aim to increase
my money all 1 could. A year ago a
friend OF mine, who 10 in the same
business 1 am in, told me he could
take a partner In the spring, and that
Ii l should 90 in with him we should
make great deal Of money. l looked
into the matter and found that he was
not mistaken about it. l saw that I
could. in few years, increase my six
thousand to twenty thousand and I
told him l would be ready to Join him
when the time came Meantime nv
money was lying in the bank, where
I ought to have left it, drawing 5h
per cent interest.
shortly after l had made this ar
rangement with my friend about the
partnership. man l knew we'll and
had great confidence in came to me
and asked me to lend him my money
Till l should want it. l told him |
should want it at the end Of the year.
and he gid he could readily return it
by that time. and he would give me ]
per cent So l let him have 1t, and
now 1t Is due, and can't get 1t back"
HAS he any property?" l asked.
"Yes-any amount Of 1t; but I've I'M
derstood he's a slippery fellow, but ]
had not known that before"
But you took his note, surelyy
said l.
Yes, but can't find 1t; that's what
troubles me. l called on him yester
day and told him so. and he said he
haG no recollection Of borrowing any
money from me; If had his note, b
would pay 1t: II hadn't. he wouldn't.
And you can't find the note?'
mo"
What did you do with it?'
Il put 1t in this pocket-book, wher
keep all my important papers; Blu
when l came to look for it amonl
other notes, receipts, and the like,
noa,1An,t Ava