Middletown transcript., 1897-06-26

unloc ked daraMer and counted out
} pile of crisp, new banknotes.
'sThree hundred dollars, | said. HeI
It It if, = and the pushed til } notes acros
, the table.
Without word Ezra thrust III
money into his pocket and fairly RAJ
out of the room; in his tumult of feel
ing failing to hear the call the superin
tendent sent after him.
"l'Ve got to take ii, and l am going
to take it. He offered it and l am GO
ing to take il, :" he said to himself, will
his teeth set hard as he hurried back t.
the tavern.
Tue next morning at daybreak Pau
and Peter Apple and Little jimmy bus.
tled about to get the teams ready tC
start home. Ezra leaned in the stable
door and gazsd off modify togard the
big breaker on the hill.
II reckon I'll come back here and go
to work in the mines," he told Welli.
yer, the hostler.
Peter Apple rushed exeitedly out of
the wagon shed, waving somsthing iu
his hand.
''Great snakesl Look here, Ezral"
he exclaimed, holding out a piece of
paper and little leather bag, 81 found
'em on the wagon seat"
The bag contained three hundred
and fifty dollars in gold, and on the
rough wrapping paper was rudely print
ed the following, with roughly drawn
death's-head:
"FUR HIM WoT WENT
DOWN SLOPE wit THE
Boss MOLLiE MAGU
iRES
Ps PAYiN FUR PiGSn
After counting the money two or
three times Ezra put it back in the bag
jammed the bag into his pocket. jump.
ed on one of the horses that stood ready
to be hitched-"I've got to see the su-
perintendent. Be back in jiffyl" he
called as he galloped away.
Mr.. Rae was at breakfast with his
sister when Ezra WIS shown into tie
diningroom.
There was little trace of the boys |
shamefaced manner of the ev ening be-
fore as he stepped forward and laid a
roll of bills on Cha table-cloth.
"l've brought back the three hundred
dollars, Mr.. Rae," he said, briskly.
II had made up my mind to work in
she mines and pay you back every cent
of it; but I'll not have to do that now.
You see the Molly Maguires have paid
'or the pork they stole, and that makes
t all right. There's fifty dollars over
hat l wish you would please take and
lse when some of them get hurt or
something. The hogs wouldn't have
etched over three hundred, tho they
we're all corn-fed, Of our own raising;
md l don't want more than what's
lightly coming to me.''
"Why what are you talking about?"
reclaimed Mr.. Rae, looking in surprise
t the boys flushed, honest face and
ager eyes. 81 do not want the money
ack. | do not understand
Ezra told his story in biief, straight
onward way. G
"Of conrse he said in conclusion, II
ad no right 10 come and ask for
he money after l had told you'll d q
0 with you for nothing, and did not c
Ike 10 do it;but l couldn't think of any !
Their way. 1t would like enough kill q
oily not to go to ths hospital nov, and Il
and l couldn't stand that, you see."
Before Ezra started out to mount his
half harnessed steed the SUI .
ext shook his hand, with !,
ords of cordial friendliness that raised =
le lad immeasurably in his own esteem 7
I'd the superintendent pretty sister .
so smi led and held out her hand, to :,
zra's secret delight but outward em. 9
:,
Mr.. McManes hobhled out to the gate >;
the chill twilight when he heard the !,
y shouts of the boys and the creaking .,
the wagons coming up the road. n
"Well, boys, you're back all right .,
id you have much of a timer" he .,
He'd. :,
"Yes, sir; very much of a time" an 80
'ered Ezra, as he jumped down and is
mmenced to uLbuckle the harness.
Gut l got three hundred dollars all
,hli How is Polly2''-7he Iadepea-
Mt. ne
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