The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1893-01-20
CLEAN HANDS.
Why Unele Frank Thought Ezra'S We're
the Whltest.

MInnSe Il. Kenny, III sunshine.
"ll's bargain you won, ge,
again in a hurry, and il you're
sharp YOU won't miss it,"
Ned Howell spoke impaIiently,
ms Ezra, the choreboy al his grand.
fathers house, stood by the gate
though,f,illy looking at pair Of
Gulf buttons that lay on his open
palm.
They're real went on Ned,
eager TO close The bargain. "Why
one of them is worth more than a
halt a dozen of your fancy pigeons,
and here you have a chance to gel
The PAIR of them for half the
price,"
Ezra had come out the lnser too
often in his dealings with Ned, tn
be willing 10 believe everything
he said; but the buttons did look
like real gold, and if they were, he
would be quite willing to give six
of his white fanlall pigeons for
them.
Don't paw them with your dir
ty hands, If you're not going to
take them," said Ned, rudely, as
Ezra turned The bultors over and
examined hem more closely. "Ii
vou arn'l sharp enough TO make a
good bargain for yourself, why
give them back to me-"
'l'll take lhem," sand Ezra, slow
~ closing his hands over them.
"I'il have The pigeons IN basket
ready for you 10 lake home with
you tomorrow morning"
lie pul The buttons in his pocket,
and went down to The barn TO do
his evening chores, wondering
whether he had really EN- cheat.
ed again in his bargain, as he mad
so often been before. Ned stood
at The gale looking after The re-
treating figure of Ezra, with tri-
umlhanl smile on his face.
II did not occur to him that he
had done a mean or dishOn0rable
action IN taking advantage of Ez-
ra's ignorance, and he was proud
oi " hat he considered his clever.
ness.
lie knew iha, there was very
little danger that Ezra would DIS
cover The comparative worthless
ness Of The cuff buttons, aud 81
his untru'hlulness in the matter
would not be discovered.
Presently Uncle Frank left his
on the porch where he had beer
sitting, hidden bv the vines which
climbed over it and joined his
nephew at The gate.
II wouldn't be a choreboy fol
anything" said Ned.
"Why 2" asked Uncle Frank.
'Oh. they have TO DC such dirt,
work T. answered Ned.
"Ezra's hands are always dirty
| wouldn't touch them lor any
,hing,' and he glanced with sat
istied air al his own hands, whicl
we're always as white and smooll
az if he had been Il glrl.
"Ezra's hands are cleaner thar
yours, 10 my mind" said Uncl'
/ Frank, gravely.
"Why, what d. you meang' ask
ed Ned, opening his eyes in sur
prise.
IL think dishonest bargain
. stain one's hands more than hon
t est work." answered his uncle. :"
could not feel as il my hands wer
clean, no matter how white the.
: might be If had just been cheat
ing a poor boy out of his pigeons! !!
. Ne,l's face grew very red.
t.It wasn't my fault ii he didn'
know how to make good bar
, gam" he multred.
Every one must laok out 10
himself in bargains"
ale simply took your word 70
J. The value OF the huttons. Y0
: told him they we're real
. "Well, so they were--reul bu
: IONS" laid Ned, smiling.
|, II didn't say they we're real goI
J. Il only said real buttons"
:. "You mean, him 10 think tha
they were real gold" said UncI
Frank, sternly. ut was just .