rong. I refer to the paper-mill. Mr. Burns had
undertaken the enterprise in connection with an excellent man, an old
friend and an extensive paper-dealer, residing in New-York. Each
furnished half the capital for the erection of the mill and for the
machinery, and they were, therefore, joint owners of the property. The
season after it went into operation, his friend failed and felt himself
obliged, without having time to consult Mr. Burns, to convey his portion
of the mill to a Mr. Joslin--Mr. Elihu Joslin, one of the largest
paper-merchants in the city, to whom he owed a heavy confidential debt.
This Joslin was a very rich man and also very unscrupulous--such was his
reputation with the trade. Not a few thought he was the means of forcing
his brother-merchant into bankruptcy, having first lent him considerable
sums of money on a pledge that it should be considered confidential in
any event. In this way Elihu Joslin came to be owner of one half the
paper-mill with Joel Burns. At the first interview every thing passed
pleasantly between the two. Joslin was planning how to get the other in
his power, and so finally possess the whole of the property. It was
arranged, as was very proper, that Mr. Joslin should act as merchant for
the mill, as his predecessor had done. He was to purchase and forward
rags of which to manufacture paper, and should receive on consignment
all paper produced at the mill. He sounded Mr. Burns on his own wants
for money, and was disappointed to find him in no need whatever. On the
rendering of the first accounts, Mr. Burns was much chagrined at the
state of things which they discovered. True, every thing was correct on
paper. Rags were entered at the market price; consignments when sold
were properly credited. But there were charges for all sorts of
commissions, for accepting, and paying, and accepting again, because
paper remained unsold, and for a variety of things hitherto unheard of
in ordinary dealings, and which the previous correspondent of Mr. Burns
had never made, which were positively startling. Mr. Burns remonstrated
by letter. It did not do the least good. He was dealing with a bold,
daring, unscrupulous man, who, in the language of his acquaintances,
always practiced the grab-game.

Mr. Burns finally made the best settlement of the account in his power,
determining, before another six months should pass, that he would make a
change of some sort. Unfortunately, he was at that time rather