Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-10-27
well, I'm goin'. Good-day. Ez."
Good day, All"


Grocer Bington and Clerk Norton
were talking 1t over. earnestly, as be-
came the subject In hand.
Ezra, we've belonged to the same
church for ten years, you've been good
clerk, and l amt never found nothing
wrong. and personally l don't believe
you took that money"
II didn't" interrupted Ezra, doggedly
IT didn't"
"And while, of course, there's a lot OF
talk going around about Hank suing
you, and some folks are criticising me
for keeping you here till it's cleared up,
just tell you what I'd do" and Grocer
Bington brought down his fat hand on
the top Of sugar BARREL IF had that
money, I'd confess, and give 1t up-but
If didn't, I'd see EN- in H-h-Hanover
first! That's what I'd dol"
"And that's just what I'm going to
do, Mr.. BipGton." answered Ezra,
CLEAN of determination in his eye. Let
me off to-day, and I'll get my defense
ready and begin the fight It's rainy.
and bad, anyhow, and there won't be
much doing. What do you say-can ]
get OFF,"
"Of course you can, Ezra. I'm just
as anxious as you are to get this thing
settled" agreed the grocer, land the
sooner it's settled the better!"
1t was dusk of the same rain-whipped
day. The lone shack of Henry Somers
could scarcely be seen from the main
road, now inches deep with wet, slippery
clay, but sopped and bedraggled Pc
destrian turning in at the gateway made
straight forthe hut. A vigorous rapping
brought Hank" to the door, candle in
hand, and cob pipe between his teeth.
well, Ezra Norton!" cried the ranch
err, ''be you plum crazy? Come right
I'M"
Hank" blurted Norton, 'T-No,
amt coming in-'Hank,' hear that you
say got the $50 you lost in town last
week - but, Hank IL didn't! |
didn't find your money, and amt
guilty." tremblingly, "but this talk and
suspicion is killing my wife, and it's
hurting me. member of the church,
and an honorable citizen, Id-I'd rath-
er pay you this money than be called
thief! amt got it now, but I'll get 1t
and pay you next week when you come
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 Teller don't beat mel"
Grocer Bington was reading the |
morning paper when, three weeks later,
Hank" Somers, much excited and evil
IDENTIFY bursting with concealed intelli-
gence, clandestinely slipped through the
rear door of the store and beckoned eau
tiously to Bington to follow him into the
alley.
Got all three of 'em this mornin'-
been sick and couldn't git in afore-had
the rheumatic! This un's mailed on
the 7th, this un on the 9th, and this I'm
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 conshuns Is
trublin me. Now, Hank Somers, found
yer mony miself atween the kofe kan
an the pickul key an hearn you air trim
to lay this on Ezri Morton who never
done it. My conshuns wont stand 1t
and i'm sendin you $50 today and i'm
goin to keep sendin fassi kin.
""Yours truely, The Guilty One"
"An the hull $50 is In the three letters"
whispered Hank" joyously, but" his
ace falling perceptibly, I'm mighty
,orry fer layin' this here job up agip
Ezra Norton-an'-an'-say, Bington,
amt much on begin pardons. amt
lever done much o. that, but you Jest
lit nice pair o. mittens out o. tn stock
md Civ EN- to Ezra with my compli-
nents, ,an'-oh, yes, want about S6
'ents' wuth o. Big Hatchet plug-and
hen I'm OFT"
Grocer Bington studied the letters 4
ong and carefully, scrutinizing the
writing and the paper, but at last he t
rave 1t up as beyond his power to fer
ct out the guilty person. In his heart,
However, he rejoiced that the stigma
Ittached to the good name Of his clerk
ould now be lifted. He would put Q
he letters in the safe and save the sur e
rise until evening, when the village '
strategy board" met about the grocery 7
tove to settle "pints" of stated He t
vould then bring out the evidence, and,
aving rendered II, would hand over the
littens to Ezra with nice little speech,
nd the incident would be closed with Q
he clerks complete vindication! =
Thrusting the proof of Norton's In =
ocence into the safe, he slammed shut =. !,
a.