Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-04-06

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Copyright. 1920. Western Newspaper Unionl
Very generally Ezra Noyes was des-
ignated as queer" Those who had
seen him grow up as a boy voted him
stupid, as young man he was con-
Sidered TO have wool-gathering wits
and nobody regarded him bright or
clever. Withal, however, Ezra pos
sessed one sterling quality OF depend
ability. This was definiteness. He was
truthful, set in his opinions. People
took little interest in counselling or
directing him, and Ezra grew up hav-
by himself
UnostentatiOusly but sincerely he
gained and held the good will and re-
gard of the rich uncle of the family,
Martin Dole, who kept good deal TO
himself, spoke little, and in this so re-
sembled Ezra that the twain mutually
understood and liked each other. 1t
was pretty well understood between
the two that when Martin Dole got
ready to quit this world Ezra should
step into his shoes as sole heir. Ezra
believed in the promise. He did no
scheming. thought out the proposition
in his own clear, simple way, and adj
justed circumstances and probabilities
to his own direct way of reasoning.
81 shall not marry while you hve,"
no toll IL nAI +ho loff
knew that he would keep his word.
But fate placed in the way of the care
free young philosopher an attraction
in the shape of Verda Morton that he
could not resist.
She was the daughter of an ex-gen-
eral who had once possessed fortune.
All he now had left was his pension
and the old but extensive family home,
to which he persistently chung as a
haven unequaled on earth. Verda was
a quiet appearing girl, but with deep
SoulfulnesS which the earnest devotion
of Ezra brought to the surface. They
became engaged, but under a parental
restriction.
"The man who married Verda," de-
clared the old general, must be able
TO secure Fairoaks for her. 1t is heav-
lily mortgaged, and it will take thirty
thousand dollars to clear it."
81 shall not ask your consent to our
marriage until 1 have the money to
pay for it." observed Ezra in his I'M
ostentatious way, and he kept his word
1t meant work, saving and waiting, but
when Martin Dole died one day Ezra
realized that his day of redemption
was at hand.
The local newspapers referred to
"our lamented and respected citizen,
Martin Dole" as the wealthiest resi-
dent of Elmwood, but when his estate
was settled up there was quite disap-
pOintment for Ezra. HIS uncle had left
him everything, but when his debts
were paid up there was bare eighteen
thousand dollars left.
"a good deal of money" soliloquized
Ezra, "but not enough to win Verda, so
have got to set my wits at work"
Ezra alone knew where the great
bulk of his uncle's fortune had gone.
The latter had specialized on the city
markets in stocks and bonds.
1t was then that Ezra began, indeed,
to appear queer" He suddenly grad
uated into the most typical young
dandy and spender Elmwood had ever
seen. He arrayed himself in the most
expensive raiment. He was palpably
"new-rich' from top to toe.
Then one day Ezra disappeared from
his native village. 1t was to reappear
in the city, that greedy metropolis
which had Invested his uncle of most
of his fortune. Ezra attracted atten-
ton and caused comment, appearing to
the brokers who had feeced Martin
Dole as his heir and deeming himself a
regular young Napoleon of finance. If
1t was all a part, Ezra played it we'll.
He affected artless ignorance of bust
ness. He flashed accounts on two or
three banks.
"Only looking around" he remarked
to the horde of brokers anxious to adj
wise his investments. 81 don't select
broker until see that he is going to
make me something, instead of helping
me to lose"
The result was natural The broker
TO whom he developed his system"
of course knew that in order to lead
on this young bird to be plucked he
must allow him to make a profitable
investment. Attwenty different houses
Ezra left $500 to be invested For one
week he practically lived at the stock
exchange. Then with twenty different
brokers who had given him real "tips"
and had worked hard TO gain a profit,
the golden youth left the city with a
genial, satisfied smile on his face
Made a killing and cleaned up ex.
aetly forty thousand dollars" he told
General Morton few DAYS later.
''They used TO say l was stupid, and
those shrewd brokers took ME for a
sure victim. Well. it's only getting
back the money they got from Uncle
Martin"
Then simple. innocent-minded Ezra
Moves proceeded to redeem his promise
SIS TO Fairoaks. General Morton glowed
as he saw the old home safe and his
daughters future assured Elmwood
gasped and started when Ezra's queer
ness" quiet. but effective In some way.
eventuated in giving him the mayoraIty
and the presidency of the local bank.
Somehow. I'm suspicious that Ezra
has played US all along" observed
Judge Benton. the gossip oracle of the
town
Not at all" dissented his proud
father-in-law. He wasn't much of q