Part 26 (2/2)
”I'm sorry to trouble you, Lawry,” said the official; ”but I suppose I must do my duty.”
”What's the matter, sir?” asked Lawry. ”What have I done?”
”Nothing, my boy. I think this is rather mean business; but I can't help it,” replied the sheriff, as he produced certain doc.u.ments.
”Your father owes Mr. Taylor a note of nine hundred and fifty dollars, on which the interest has not been paid for two years, making the debt ten hundred and sixty-four dollars.”
”But the place is mortgaged for that,” replied Lawry.
”I have just foreclosed the mortgage; and now I must attach this steamboat.”
”Attach it!” groaned Lawry.
”Such are my orders; your father's place would hardly sell for enough to pay the debt.”
”But this boat is mine,” pleaded Lawry.
”You are a minor, Lawry; and your father is ent.i.tled by law to all your earnings, as you have a claim on him for your support. I can't stop to explain this matter. The steamer is in my possession now, subject to the decree of the court. I shall appoint a person to take charge of her and run her for the benefit of the parties in interest.”
”That's too bad!” exclaimed Lawry.
”I know it is; but I can't help it,” replied the sheriff. ”I shall appoint your brother, and from this time he has full control of her.”
It was evident even to Lawry, who had not been informed of his brother's worst intentions, that Ben was at the bottom of this conspiracy. Such was indeed the truth. Mr. Taylor was a young man who had recently inherited a large fortune, which, it was plain, would soon be squandered, for he was both intemperate and reckless. Ben had helped him home one night after a drunken carousal, which had been the beginning of an intimacy between them, for the younger tippler was not one to neglect an opportunity to secure a wealthy friend.
They had talked together about the _Woodville_ on several occasions, and Ben had suggested in what manner he might obtain the debt due him. On the night before the visit of the sheriff to the steamer, the malignant and jealous brother had repeated to his dissipated patron the story of his grievances--that he was a ”n.o.body”
at home, and that Lawry wanted to make a deck-hand of him. Though not a badly disposed man in the main, Taylor listened with interest and sympathy to the exaggerated and distorted narrative, and the plan by which Ben was to be put in possession of the steamer was matured.
The creditor went to a lawyer, one of his boon companions, who was quite willing to make business for himself; and he had looked up the law and arranged the facts, by which he expected to hold the steamer.
Doubtless it was a very ingenious scheme, and perhaps it is unfortunate that the case never came to trial, for it involved some interesting legal points. Thus far the design had been carried out, and Ben was in command of the steamer, as an employee of the sheriff.
”I won't be as hard with you, Lawry, as you were with me,” said Ben, as he walked up to Lawry in the wheel-house, to which he had retreated to hide his confusion.
”This is your work, Ben,” replied the youth bitterly.
”I was bound to have the command of this steamer, and I have got it,” added Ben, with malignant triumph.
”I know you have; you put Mr. Taylor up to this, or he never would have done it.”
”Don't snarl about it, Lawry; the thing is done, and you can't help yourself. The sheriff has given me the command of the boat.”
”And he has attached the place. Mother will be turned out of house and home!” cried Lawry, unable to repress his tears.
”No, she won't; that will be all right.”
”Oh, Ben! How could you do it?”
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