Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-01-12

to town-No | won't come in, and I'm
going back row 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.
''WellI 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 I'm on the 9Th. and this IN
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 keg an hearn you air trim
to lay this on Err Norton who never
done IT, My conshuns wont stand II
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
face falling perceptibly, I'm mighty
sorry fer layin' this here Job up aclp
Ezra Norton-an'-an' Bington.
I amt much on begin pardons. amt |
never done much o. that. but you Jest
git nice pair o. mittens out o. tn stock |
and Civ 'em to Ezra with my compII.
ments. an'-oh. yes. I want about IS |
cents wuth o Big Hatchet plug-and
then I'm Off"
Grocer Bington studied the letter,
long and carefully. scrutlnizing the
writing and the paper. but at last he
gave 1T up as beyond his power 10 fer
ret out the guilty person. In his heart |
however, he reioiced that the stigma
attached to the good name Of his clerk
could now be lifted He would nut
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 IL, would hand over the
mittens to Ezra with a nice little speecb
and the incident would be closed with
the clerks complete vindicationi
Thrusting the proof OF Norton's fin.
into the safe, he slammed sbu.
the ponderous door As the mass NJ
iron and steel settled into its place with
a Jar. notebook fell from behind Tho
safe to the floor!
Bington picked It up absently. H.
did not remember Of having such mad
Opening the cover carelessly. tho
gave a sudden starr
CHANGING about hurriedly. ne reoperas
the safe and took from the pigeon-h0Ie
where he had placed them. Heur,
Somers' lettersi Holding one ~ me
sheets to the light alongside a sbsa,
from the notebook. the honest merchant
gaspedi
The water mark. Xxx NJbr,p
Mills" showed plainly IN both pazss
He picked up the pad. and. tu-rfnp
he cover backward, quickly scanned
he stubs, Three sheets, and three
1nly. had been removed
Guilty by thuSder," be whispered
'eelingly.
Going to the journal Grocer Bling
on erased a charge from the dav's II
accounts. Il was this item.
Henry Somers. one pair mittens 70,
Ezra Norton, s225.H-Retailers' Jour,
hal