"Sell me out by the sheriff!" exclaimed Malcolm, with a look of surprise. "What difference will that make, pray? It is this breaking up, root and branch, process that I wish to avoid."
"That is just what I want to do for you. I wish to save you. You don't understand, I see, the nature of an amicable sale by the sheriff."
"No, I certainly do not. Never having had anything to do with that gentleman, I am not familiar with all his proceedings."
"I will explain. By the laws of this State no assignments of property for the benefit of particular creditors are legal. But by the same laws, the creditor who can first get out his execution sweeps off everything, provided his claim be as large as the proceeds of the property sold. This enables a debtor to give precedence to whomsoever he pleases by a confession of judgment. Of course there must be a sale of the property, but then it can be conducted in such a way as to attract very little attention. Leave the thing in my hands, and I will see that even your next door neighbor shall not know it. Of course, I do not mean to touch your property. My object is to secure you in its possession."
"But there must be public advertisements and handbills?" said Malcolm.
"I know. But the advertisement can be inserted in some country paper where no citizen will ever see it."
"But the handbills? To make it legal they must be posted."
"Granted. But the law doesn't specify the number. Two will answer."
"It certainly requires them to be put up in public places."
"Very well. The sheriff's office is a public place."