Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-10-17

CT, ''be you plum crazy? Come right int"
 Hank,'" blurted Norton, 'T-No, I ain't coming in-Hank,' I hear that you say got the $50 you lost in town last week but, Hank I-I didn't! I didn't find your money, and ain't guilty" tremblingly, "but this talk and suspicion is killing my wife. and it's hurting me- As a member of the church, and an honorable citizen, I'd-I'd rath- CT pay you this money than be called a thief! ain't got 1t now, but I'll get it and pay you next week when you como to town-No, won't come in, and I'm going back now the way came. just wanted you to know, that's all"
 And before the astonished and half convinced Henry could interfere, Ezra Norton had turned toward the ten miles of black and sticky road, and was swal- lowed by the plutonian darkness.
 well, swami" growled Somers, "ef that feller don't beat mel" Grocer Bington was reading the morning paper when, three weeks later. Hank" Somers, much excited and evil dently bursting with concealed intelli- gence, clandestinely slipped through the rear door of the store and beckoned cau- tiously to Bington to follow him into the alley.
 'Got all three of 'em this mornin' been sick and couldn't git ip afore-had the rheumatizi This un's mailed on the 7th, this un on the 9th, and this un on the 11th," and Hank" thrust three letters, one by one, into the hands of Bington.
 The groceryman, bewildered, wonder ingly, opened the first letter, written in a cramped and unruly hand, and read:
 Deer Sur: My gilty conshunst is trublin me. Now, Hank Somers. found yer mony miself atween the kofe kan an the pickul keg an hearn you air trin to lay this on Ezri Norton who never done 1t. My conshuns wont stand it and i'm sendin you $30 today and i'm goin to keep sendin fassi kin.
 Yours truely, The Guilty One"
 "An the hull $S0 is in the three letters, ' whispered Hank" joyously, t'but," his face falling perceptibly, "I,m mighty sorry fer layin' this here job up agip Ezra Norton an = an '--say, Bington. ain't much on beggfn pardons, ain't never done much O that, but you jest git a nice pair O mittens out O th' stock and giv' 'em to Ezra with my compli- ments, an'-oh, yes, want about S5 cents wuth O Big Hatchet plug-and then I'm of!
 Grocer Bington studied the letters long and carefully, scrutinizing the writing and the paper, but at last he gave 1t up as beyond his power to fer ret out the guilty person. In his heart. however, he rejoiced that the stigma attached to the good name of his clerk could now be lifted. He would put the letters in the safe and save the sur prise until evening, when the village strategy board" met about the grocery stove to settle "pints'' of state! He would then bring out the evidence, and, having rendered 1t, would hand over the mittens to Ezra with nice little speech, and the incident would be closed with the clerks complete vindication!
 Thrusting the proof of Nortons in- nocence into the safe, he slammed shut the ponderous door. As the mass of :. iron and steel settled into it's place with :, a Jar. a, notebook fell from behind the safe to the floor!
 Bington picked 1t up absently. He did not remember of having such pad. Opening the cover carelessly, the groceryman gave a sudden start. Glancing about hurriedly, he reopened the safe and took from the pigeon-hole where he had placed them, Henry Somers' lettersi Holding one of the sheets to the light alongside a sheet from the notebook. the honest merchant gasped!
 The water mark, xxx Niblick Mills" showed plainly in both pages. He picked up the pad. and, turning the cover backward, quickly scanned the stubs. Three sheets, and three only, had been removed!
 . Guilty, by thunder!" he whispered. feelingly.
 Going to the journal. Grocer Bing- ton erased a charge from the days accounts. It was this item:
 Henry Somers, one pair mittens for Ezra Norton, s2.25. ."-Retailers Jour nal.
 K NEW Y0RK,C MiMEDAc