The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-01-24

empty glass she was followed to the
kitchen by Aunt Pope, who shared her
dislike to China cooking" and wished
To discuss with her a new kind of pud-
ding, to the wrath of Gar, the Chinese
servant.
''Well, they're both gone" said the
judge. suddenly laying down his cards.
land l suppose 1 ought 10 make a clean
breast of il, Ezra. You know / put in
a small sum of your money with mine
I'm loan TO Bandini and took a mort
gage deed on that lemon ranch out to
Sweetwater?'
Yes, oh, yes. You know how TO place
money and / don't. 1 can beat you on
economy. but as for finance-'
Ezra had often said this before and
the judge had never disputed him. Ger
tainly the statement had some truth in
it, for whether Sam understood finance
or not Ezra did understand economy.
He knew exactly how much or rather
how little he had to spend, and never
risked running i'm debt. The judge was
in the habit of laughing good-naturedly
at such caution and humility. not wish
ing to wound him, but assuming always
the air of polite teacher. Today, how
ever. it did not occur to him TO laugh
or even smile.
i've kept it from YOU as long as I
could, Ezra, hating to worry you. But
the truth is that lemon land has jumped
over the moOni 1t never belonged to Ban
DIM. No; and as soon as he got our
money he skipped. Business I'm Denver
he said; but / heard Of him yesterday in
if we ever recover a cent"
The judge spoke with embarrassment
every word an effort. How hard he had
been on Ezra for. tying up money in
that struggling little railroad back East
for the good of their native town. How
ha no IA ~, hi
sundry poor sticks too lazy to help
themselves For his own part he had
vast knowledge of human nature and
never tried to conceal it.
But now the tables were turned. 1t
was Ezra, the childlike Ezra. who had
called Bandini that treacherous Span
lard while the wary, discreet Sam had
actually trusted the wretch for lemon
land in the moon, Ezra had a right TO
retOTt on the judge with vengeance
Would he do so? Sam did not know
him if he thought him capable Of it.
No. the first thing Ezra did was to
hold his breath in amazement. it
seemed so incredible that a man like his
brother could be put in the wrong And
then, seeing his modification, the next
thing for Ezra TO do was TO pity him
from the depths of his soul.
THAT rascal"' ne cried why, Ban
DIM was plausible enough to deceive
the very elect. How much did you loan
him?"
No regret as yet for his own loss.
mere mite compared with Sans. He
would only have to ecOnomize more
closely; and what was that to Ezra. who
knew the sweet uses Of adversity2 There
were still a few luNuries he could fore
go and be none the worse for il, thank
heaven.
II was a distinct relief to his brother
to see him so philosophical though it
was 20 have been expected. When he re-
fused an invitation To dinner-nOt allud-
ing TO the fact that this was his birth
day-and went away with a smile. albeit
a forced one. the judge watched him out
of sight with look Of unusual tender
ness in his quick, dark eyes
There goes a man who makes me
ashamed OF myself / ought to refund
him his share of that Bandini loan: but
how can l, involved as I am. ] wouldn't
have him know how my property has
dwindled. And as for that codicil-"
he turned away from the window
abruptly.
Can't do it. Twould be an Injustice
to Ezra. Well, well I'll straighten
things out after a while, give me time
enough"
Next morning as Col Ezra was wash
ing his breakfast dishes somewhat later
than usual, owing TO domestic inter
ruDuons, there was a loud double stroke
lions head in the city
Please go round TO the other door"
besouSht the colonel through the key
hole, the kittens in the entry having a
fit"
In five seconds the caller was at the
back porch. his long black cue dancing
frantically up and down his blue blouse
1t was Gar, Judge Preston's Chinaman.
"JudSe-ee heap sickee. No talkee. no
wakeer'
What. the judge sick? Have you been
for the doctcr?"
'Dockee come. / fetch dockee."
Without another word, for somehow
he lacked the courage to question the
frightened Monaghan, Ezra was on his
way 10 his brothers with rapid strides
What this meant he would not allow
himself even TO conjecture He tried to
stifie thought All kinds of grotesdue
fancies fitted through his brain The
dusty road, thiclly printed with chick
en-tracks, recalled the Sanded floors his
grandmother used to tell of. with their
rude traceTy Of flowers. Yes. but Gar.
what did Gar mean?' Anon few tall
slender expresses nodding their curved
tops reminded him of aunt Louisa's
forefinger giving Aunt Pope the counter
sign for eggnOg. And then he said
again: What did Gar mean? one of
his Celestial blunders Sam can't be
really sick" II was seldom he called
him Sam even in his thoughts.
They were nearing the judges man
sion. The roof laid off in squares of
cream color and chocolate, had always
looked 10 Ezra like a huge chess-bOard,
but now the notion came to him what
if Satan IS up there playing a game of
checkers with one Of his imps?" Aunt
Pope. Q Aunt Pope, what is it?" She
was a woman who seldom gave way
but as she met him at the door, her
face wan and white. worked conVulsiVe-
", she was wrinsing her hands under
her apron.
Up stairs" she said. 'in his room.
We thought he was taking a morning
nap DR.. Gambler was coming down
the stairs, looking very grave. The col
Onel saw Aunt Pope grasp his arm,
heard him say:
Yes. all of two hours ago.
He can't be worse muttered Ezra
proceeding to his brothers room; "he
can't be worse"
He was not. The wholesome color In
the judges cheeks refuted that idea.
Nor was he even asleep. He did not take
the trouble 10 open his eyes as his
brother approached the bed but there
was a humorous wrinkle about the eye
lids which seemed to say. "Ah. Ezra. you
really thought you'd caught me mapping
this time. didn't you?"
The colonel touched the hand which
lay outside the coverlet. 1t was enough
he understood. His brother, the Judge
never once having spoken Of a journey,
had quietly left California that morning
and made venture of still another coun-
try
"Oh. Ezra. how can we have il 500"
mOaned Aunt Louisa. who sat rocking to