Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-10-17
he s uspicion of Ezra
.'...Ss 1 =
] By BYRON ROBERT WILLIAMS

the Mount Hope Saviour church.
 ''Hank' Somers was the not always genteel cow-puncher out at Big Mans Elbow, and he chewed plugl
 Ezra did not chew plug, but circum- stances forced him to sell it-and that is why, on this particular raw fall day in Platts Corners, Ezra and Hank" faced each other over the chocolate-col- ored counter and exchanged pastoral courtesies.
 "Cold enough for you, Hank?" queried the clerk, showing the packages toward his customer, graciously.
 "Purty durned chisely, Ez," fuIn- bling beneath the bunglesome overall for a roll of bills in his hip pocket. "FIow much?"
 Tobacco, $1.10; sugar, 20 cents; cof- fee, 40. and candy. 5-$1.so all told. How's things out on the Elbow?"
 Things is-bad. Eff we don't git a warm spell of Injun summer, fust thing we know they won't be a bushel o' corn in this hull county. Frost'll git Ter. sure! We'll so long, Ez!" and Henry slouched of to the hitching rail along side the town park, to get his team and lumber away over the country roads towards his shack in the MoQuin valley to the north.
 In the village store, Ezra Norton, ehivering at the sudden inclemency of Boreas, opened the door of the cavern ous sheet-iron stove and peered within its sooty nav. The accumulated debris from the sweepings half-filled the heat CT, and would make a wholesome blaze with the scattered whittlings left by the dilatory loafers of the village dur ing the morning, as they whittled and sailed the ship of state.
 Every little helps!" unused the clerk in ancient axiom, reaching for the broom.
 Coin to freshen Ter up bit, be yer" quired Ali. Scuiggs, forging into the store and rubbing his blue hands viz orously
 "Hey. there! Wait minute! Look a-here!" and Ali. bobbing quickly to the floor; picked from amidst the shavings plump roll of bills!
 Don't ye care nuthin' fer this sort O truck, Hz. or are ye gittin' so dodgasted rich ye kin afford to burn Ter like corncobs?''
 Ezra Norton gaSped!
 'dThat's risky place for Hetty Brown to be losing her money. Alf!" excitedly. after moments hesitation. ~She's just left, too! Here,'' hurrfedly thrusting the money into his pocket, .'you watch the store minute and I'll just run and catch her! She leaves for Denver to- night!"
 Sure, Ez sure! Skip! I won't suck no eggs while yer gone! Git!''
 Norton slammed the door behind him. and Ali. raising the lid to the cheese box with alacrity in his heart and wa ter in his mouth, cut off liberal hunk" of soheesa..,s Cramming this into his s'cheeksy he 'spearedaa half dozen olives took splinter of cod-flsh and an apple, and grinned!
 'Keepin -store's-a'right," between munches, "ef yer-hungry-an, (swal- low) most (swallow) allus am!" (gulp)t
 Norton's face was aglow when he re- turned.
 "Hetty was mighty glad to get her money back!" he panted. Said she couldn't have gone west without 1t. Lucky, wasn't it?"
 "How-how (choking) how much was--they ?' gasped Ali, striving to clear his strangling and outraged throat from , its last superhuman gulp, and looking bit sheepish.
 'sOh, there wasn't much, but she was mighty glad to get 1t, just the same!"
 Looked to me like 1t 'ud most choke cow." grinned Ali, gazing longingly at the cheese-box. "One-dollar bills. I s'pose, mostly!"
 II suppose so," acQuiesced Ezra. ssHave a cigar, Afr"
 No, thank ye," reaching eagerly for 1t, T don't smoke se-gars any more, 'ceptin' when .kin git 'em! flaw! Haw!" and Alfred laughed immoderate- ly at his waggishness as he scratched the match where it would do the most good, and t'lit up.'
 Silence and smoke.
 Then: "When's tn boss comin' home. Ez?'
 "To-morrow!"
 'sSo?" | 'Yes.s e.s
 ''Well. I'm goin'. Good-day. Ez."
 "Good-day, Ali"
 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 a good clerk, and I ain't never found nothing wrong, and personally don't believe you took that money"
 T didn't" interrupted Ezra, doggedly -"I didn't!"
 And while, of course. there's lot of talk going around about Hank suing you, and some folks are critioising me for keeping you here till it's cleared up, I just tell you what I'd do" and Grocer Bington brought down his fat hand on the top of a sugar barrel. If had that money, I'd confess, and give it up-but if didn't, I'd see 'em in H-h-Hanoyer first! That's what I'd dol"
 And that's just what I'm going to do, MT. Bington," answered Ezra, a gleam of determination in his eye. Let me off to-day and I'lI eef my defense