18o6.] That John Mason, 97 



thus come into the unincumbered possession of a piece of property upon 

 which he has received two thousand dollars.' 



' But three thousand dollars will not satisfy his claim against me.' 



*iS!"o. You will still owe him a thousand dollars.' 



* Will he prosecute his claim ? ' 



* He ! ' and the man smiled. ' Yes, to the last extremity, if there be 

 hope of getting anything.' 



* Then I am certainly in a bad way.' 



* I'm afraid you are, unless you can find some one here who will 

 befriend you in the matter.' 



' There is no one here who will lend me four thousand dollars upon 

 the piece of property.' 



* I don't know of but one man who is likely to do it,' he answered. 



* AVho is that? ' I asked, eagerly. 

 'John Mason.' 



' John Mason ! I'll never go to him.' 

 'Why not?' 



* I might as well remain where I am, as to get into his hands. A 

 sharper, and a lawyer to boot ! No, no ; better to bear the evils that 

 we have, than to fly to others that we know not of.' 



* You may get assistance some where else, but I am doubtful,' said the 

 man, and bowing politely, passed on, and left me to my own unpleasant 

 reflections. 



Laxton made as quick work of the business as the nature of the case 

 would^ admit, and in a short time the property was advertised at public 

 sale. As the time for sale approached, the great desire to prevent the 

 sacrifice, suggested the ' dernier resort' of calling upon Mason. But my 

 prejudice against the man was so strong, that I could not get my own 

 consent to do so. But accidentally meeting with my unknown friend, 

 he asked : 



* Have you been to see Mason ? ' 

 I shook my head. 



' Then you have made up your mind to let the scoundrel, Laxton, 

 fleece you out of your property ? ' 

 ' I see no way of preventing it.' 



* Why don't you try Mason ? ' 



* I don't believe it would do any good.' 



* I think diff'erently.' 



' If he did help me out of this difficulty,' I replied, * it would only be 

 to get me into a more narrow corner.' 



* You don't know any such thing,' said the man, in a different tone 



VOL. I., NO. 11. — 7. 



