The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-01-09

fainIy no one N UFnam nau Known MN
70 do stroke OF work since he retired
to live on his wife's earnings as
dressmaker.
"Well." commented Captain Eri
Hedge. who was not member Of the
circle but had dropped in to buy some
tobacco. IT like Cap'n Ez. He does
love to git the best of bargain, ana
he's n driver on a vessel, and perhaps
he likes to shave the law pretty close
sometimes. Ez is a regular born gam
bier for takin' chances, but l never
knew him to do a mean trick"
"What do you call that game he put
up on the old maids?" asked "Squeal-
err" "You knew bout that, didn't you,
Jabez? Seems Prlssy and Tempy
wanted to sell that little piece of cram
b'rv swamp Of theirs cause it didn't
pay them TO take care Of it and keep 1t
in shape. Prissy told Seth Wingate
about It, and Seth said he didn't want
II. but that he'd give them so and So
a fair price, consld'rin'. Well, they
was goin' to sell 1t to Seth, but Ez
comes home bout that time, hears of
the deal and goes to Prissy and buys
1t for $50 morn Seth offered. And In
side of three months along comes that
Ostable company and buys all that
land for their big swamp They say
Titcomb made more'n a hundred dol
lars out of that deal. If you don't
think that's a mean trick, Cap'n Err,
you ask Seth Wingate what he thinks
Of It."
81 know about that" said Captain
Fri calmly, land 1 think it was jest
another case of Els takln' chances,
that's all. Seth's growlln' is only sour
grapes. Ez knew the Ostable folks
was talkin' bout layin' out big
swamp over here some time or other.
He lest bought the Allen piece and
run his risk. You notice Prissy and
Tempy amt findin' no fault. They
think he's the only man in town. Fact
Is, he is the only man, outside of the
minister, that they'll have any deal
ms with. Queer pairin' off that is
Ez and the Minister he chuckled.
ooh. womens fools, anyhow" snort
ed Captain Jabez savagely. "Ez Tit
comb always could wind EN- round
his fingers. He's been next door to
keepin' comp'ny with more glrls'n a
few in this town sence he was old
enough to leave school, but he don't
go fur enough to git engaged or nothin'
like that. Minute there's any talk that
he's likely 70 git married to one OF EN-
away goes Ez, and that's the end Of
that courtin. And yet spite Of their
talk bout his bein' slick and hints that
he's tricky they're always heavin' up
to Teller How smart Capn Titcomb
Is, and Why don't you make money
same as Cap'n EzryY 'NOugh to make
an honest man sick"
Captain Fri made his purchases and
went home. but the others continued
10 dissect Ezra Titcombs character,
and the general opinion seemed to be
/ that he would bear watchin'.'
Meanwhile the captain, unconscious
Of all this piloted Bradley to the cor
ner Of the road upon. which the Allen
sisters lived. and there left him with
a message to the effect that he (the
captain) would call next day. Then ne
/ sought his room at the Traveller
Rest" there to read the paper Of the
/ day before, while the boy, with his big
bundle of old clothes and new extras, -
walked hOmeward alone
The Allen house was ON the lower
road" and to reach 1t you turned the
corner just above web Saunders
| billiard room and went oil past Lem
Mullett's stable, and the Methodist
"buryin' ground"-the sects in Orhan
cannot, apparently, agree even after
they are dead. for each denomination
has its separate cemetery-past the
late Captain Saunders estate and Oh
up the hill overlooking the bay. Brad
lev had Just reached the little house
next door to the Aliens, when, through
the side gate of its yard, there darted
q small ragged looking dog, barking
as if it went by steam. 1t was follow
ed by a big dog also barking, and thi:
in turn was followed by another anC
still another. None of the animals was
handsome and none looked as if it was
good for much except to bark, bu
each seemed to feel that it was its spe
cial duty to devour the boy before the
others got chance at him. On they
came, a noisy procession, growing anC
swapping.
Bradley put down his bundle an(
looked about for a stone, but the snow
covered the road, and there were M
stones in sight. He poised himself oil
one foot and held the other ready 70
a kick The dogs formed circle abou
him and the racket was blood curdling
Out OF the gate darted a slim girl II
a red dress, brandishing a broom.
''They won't hurt yOu!" she scream
ed, running to the rescue. stop 1t, Pc
ter! BE quiet, Rags Go home, Tues
day! Winfield, I'll give it to you!
The dogs lodged the broom and re
tired to a safe distance, wagging thei
! 4 4