`` Emil says that when one man ` bezzles -LRB- believe that 's the word it means to take money and cut away with it -RRB- the property of a firm , the other one sues him , or pitches into him somehow , and wo n't have any thing more to do with him . Now you have ` bezzled my property ; I sha n't sue you , and I sha n't pitch into you , but I must dissolve the partnership , because I ca n't trust you , and I do n't wish to fail . '' `` I ca n't make you believe me , and you wo n't take my money , though I 'd be thankful to give all my dollars if you 'd only say you do n't think I took your money . Do let me hunt for you , I wo n't ask any wages , but do it for nothing . I know all the places , and I like it , '' pleaded Nat . But Tommy shook his head , and his jolly round face looked suspicious and hard as he said , shortly , `` Ca n't do it ; wish you did n't know the places . Mind you do n't go hunting on the sly , and speculate in my eggs . '' Poor Nat was so hurt that he could not get over it . He felt that he had lost not only his partner and patron , but that he was bankrupt in honor , and an outlaw from the business community . No one trusted his word , written or spoken , in spite of his efforts to redeem the past falsehood ; the sign was down , the firm broken up , and he a ruined man . The barn , which was the boys ' Wall Street , knew him no more . Cockletop and her sisters cackled for him in vain , and really seemed to take his misfortune to heart , for eggs were fewer , and some of the biddies retired in disgust to new nests , which Tommy could not find . `` They trust me , '' said Nat , when he heard of it ; and though the boys shouted at the idea , Nat found comfort in it , for when one is down in the world , the confidence of even a speckled hen is most consoling . Tommy took no new partner , however , for distrust had entered in , and poisoned the peace of his once confiding soul . Ned offered to join him , but he declined , saying , with a sense of justice that did him honor , `` It might turn out that Nat did n't take my money , and then we could be partners again . I do n't think it will happen , but I will give him a chance , and keep the place open a little longer . '' Billy was the only person whom Bangs felt he could trust in his shop , and Billy was trained to hunt eggs , and hand them over unbroken , being quite satisfied with an apple or a sugar-plum for wages . The morning after Dan 's gloomy Sunday , Billy said to his employer , as he displayed the results of a long hunt , `` Only two . '' `` It gets worse and worse ; I never saw such provoking old hens , '' growled Tommy , thinking of the days when he often had six to rejoice over . `` Well , put 'em in my hat and give me a new bit of chalk ; I must mark 'em up , any way . ''
XXXXX mounted a peck-measure , and looked into the top of the machine , where Tommy kept his writing materials .
Billy Cockletop Dan Emil Nat Ned bezzles days poisoned sugar-plum