The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-11-01

up, | just tell you what I'd do" and
Grocer Bington brought down his fat
hand hard on the top of sugar bar,
rel. IF took that money, I'd confess
and give it up-but if didn't, I'd see
'em in H-h-HanoYer firstl That's
what I'd dol"
And that's just what I'm going to
do, Mr.. Bington," answered Ezra, a
CLEAN of determination in his eye.
Let me off to-day and I'll get my de-
Tense 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!"
II 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 and
slippery clay, but sopped and be-
draggled pedestrian, turning in at the
gateway, made straight for the hut.
A vigorous rapping brought Hank"
to the door, candle in hand and cob
pipe between his teeth.
"Well, Ezra Norton!" cried the
rancher "be you plum crazy? Come
right I'M"
HANK" blurted Norton, "I-No. /
amt coming in-Hank, l hear that
you say got the $50 you lost in town
last week-but, Hank, IL didn't! I
didn't find your money and amt
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 rather pay you this money than be
called a-thief! | amt got it now, but
III 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 swallowed by the plutonian dark
ness.
Well, l swami" growled Somers, "ei
that Teller don't beat mel"
Grocer Bington was reading the
morning paper when, three weeks lat
err Hank" Somers, much excited and
evidently bursting with concealed intel
Ilgence, clandestinely slipped through
the rear door of the store and beck
oned cautiously to Bington to follow
MIN 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
IN the 7th, this un on the 9th. and
his un on the 11th," and Hank"
thrust three letters, one by one, into
he hands of Bington.
The groceryman, bewildered. won
lering, opened the first letter, written
eramped and unruly hand, and
ead
Deer Sur: My gilty conshuns is
rubin me. Now, Hank Somers, /
ound yer mony miself atween the
.ofe kan an the picl1ul key and
earn you air trim to lay this on Ezri
norton who never done it. My con-
huns wont stand it and i'm sendin
GU $50 to-day and i'm goin to keep
endin fassi kin. Yours truely.
"The City One"
And the hull $50 is in the three
etters," whispered Hank" joyously.
but" his face falling perceptibly.
I'm mighty sorry fer layin' this here
Do agin Ezra Norton-an'-an' say.
ington, ! amt much on beggin' par
ons, amt never don much o. that.
ut you Jest git nice pair o. mittens
ut o the stock and Civ 'em to Ezra
18th my compliments, an-oh, yes, l
ant about S5 cents wuth O. Big
latchet plug-and then I'm on"
Grocer Bington studied the letters 9
ing and carefully, scrutinizing the 0
riting and the paper, but at last he
ave 1t up as beyond his power to fer .
II out the guilty person. In his heart
oweVer, he rejoiced that the stigma y
-tached to the good name of his ?
NN NOuAN hOW bS nll0us he would !,
1t the letters in the safe and save
70 surprise until evening, when the
llage strategy board" met about the
'ocery stove to settle 'pInts" of
ate! He would then bring out the b.
idence and. having rendered it. 7
ould hand over the mittens to Ezra t
It'll a nice little speech and the Incl. CT
mt would be closed with the clerks 81
'mplete vindicationl b'
Thrusting the proof of Norton's In. 81
'cence into the safe, he slammed W
ut the ponderous door. AS the masa m
Iron and. steel settled into it's place DC
tn jar, a notebook fell from be. &c
nd the safe to the floor! ne
Bington picked it up absently. He WI
not remember Of having such OF
d. Opening the cover carelessly. pa
g g%ceryman gave a sudden start. &c
ancing about hurriedly, he reopened
safe and took from the pigeon.
lie where he had placed them Henry
mers' letters! Holding one of the di
eets to the light alongside a shee, FIR
I'm the notebook, the honest mer AT
ant gasped! tn