The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1905-11-30

Il wish the kettle would boil" he
sighed. lying back YEARLY. "A cup of
tea will make me right
But when the kettle boiled at last
he paid no attention. The throbbing,
which for some minutes had been
almost unbearable, had abruptly
ceased, and sense of peace had de-
scended upon John Breen.
His eyes closed, he lay unconscious,
his hard features wonderfully soft
ened. Strangely enough he dressed
well. and as he lay there n the poor
light. of the candle and the increasing
glow of the fire, which failed to make
clear the poverty and wretchedness
OF his surroundings. he might have
been taken for a we'll to do and rather
handsome elderly gentleman enjoying
a nap.
The kettle was dry and ruined, the
hre was almost out. and the candle
was within an inch of its socket, when
John Breen came back to life aga.1.
He sat up feobly and looked curiously
about him.
He felt no pain. but he was greatly
puzzled. An expression of disgust
dawned upon his face when his eyes
caught sight of the bread *. cheese,
but being desperately hungry he cut
a piece of the former and ate a por-
ton. He was chilly, too. and felt
a craving for hot food.
Then he beheld his wealth. He be-
gan to tremble violently. and tears
rolled down his cheeks.
Awe stricken, he whispered to him.
self: And I might have died to-
night. 1 might have died and no one,
not even myself, have been the better
for my having lived"
He took the notes. the bags of gold
and the documents from the safe, laid
them in a heap at his feet, and began
to reckon his future. 1t was easily
done, for each bag was stamped with
$780," while each bundle of securi.
ties had a slip of paper attached bear.
ing its approximate value. Besides,
he found no difficulty in counting now.
The grand total came to a few hun
dreds and odd over eighty thousand
pounds.
Il must leave this accursed house
ct once" he said, suddenly. Il must
lose no time or may be too Late
Within an hour he left the house III
cab with a couple of ancient port
manteaus. In his pocket he carried a
letter addressed to his charwoman,
and containing instructions for her not
to call until notified to do so, which
he intended to post at the first oppor-
tunity. The letter also contained ten
five pound notes.
1t was past midnight when he
reached the large hotel in Northum-
berland avenue-the name of which
had somehow occurred to him as he
stepped into the cab-but he managed
to get a fairly good supper before
retiring. He slept little, for he had
many plans to make for the morrow.
Still, he arose in the morning with
nothing worse than a feeling of tired
ness, which. however. seemed to
affect his memory rather strangely.
For instance. he could not remember
where he had come from the previous
night; as the day wore on he was oc-
casionally perplexed regarding other
matters of the past. The bunch of
complicated keys in his pocket puzzled
him, and when he happened upon
the doctors prescription in another
pocket he could not recollect the visit
to the physician. Most Of all. the re-
volyer in his hip pocket troubled him.
He did not know what to do with it,
and he was afraid to unload it lest 1t
be discharged. For the time being he
decided to lock it in q drawer in his
bedroom.
He spent the fornoon in studying
the newspapers. and in the afternoon
he paid q visit to the poorest quarters
of the East End, returning, with
white and troubled face. to play with
his dinner and to spend the evening
locked in his room.
A few days later people began to cal
unon him-prosperous looking gentle
men and fine ladies-and earnest con-
versations took place in the elegant
sitting room he had engaged IN add
ton to his bedroom. Other men and
women. pinched and sad, began 10
watch for his coming to their miserab bic
dwellings.
And nearly three months went past
=
One evening toward the end OF May
Mr.. Breen gave little dinner party
I'm his private sitting room. Ten ladies
md gentlemen, all keenly interested
in philanthropic work, we're present
and oven those of them who were high
in the land treated their gentle faced
host with unfeigned respect ano
seemed to regard him with sincere az
faction as we'll as admiration. i
though the weather had unexpectedly
become oppressively hot the spirits %
tho guests did not suffer oppression
Onlv the host appeared somewhat
vearied when, the dinner itself Delns
over the time came for hir' to ex
Main a new scheme of charity whicf
ha had lately been deeply considering
end which all present Wee eager Il
hear about.
ST must ask you to pardon my ieav
;,o Won for a moment. my friends. III
said suddenly. II find have iei. LILY
notes on the scheme in my room.
with a word Of thanks for me per
mission readily granted. and 2 pieasa"
smiIe to all. Mr.. Breen left the Eoo"'