The Elbert County tribune., 1905-11-16

9 g noiseIessly, and John Breen
went slowly down the short
1o< fight of steps, his grayish
countenance working with fury.
"A guinea for prescribing more rest
and nourishment, plus bottle of drug
gist's filth" he muttered. What on
earth possessed me to consult hlm?"
Reaching the pavement lie began to
walk swiftly. but a throbbing behind
the old scar on his temple compelled
him to slacken his pace.
Il suppose it was that that made me
take fright" he said 10 himself. Il
never used to have headaches. II I'm
not better by tomorrow III take his
prescription TO the chemist, though |
believe it's all nonsense"
A hanson driver hailed him inviting
.ly, but he shook his head impatlently,
and quickened his steps In spite of the
dull throbing that caused him to half
close his eyes. 1t was n chilly evening.
and as he turned from the quiet street
into the busy thoroughfare sleet began
TO fall, but instead of taking bus he
set out to walk the two miles that lay
between him and his place of abode
: He arrived at his door wet and shiv-
ering.
His home was an old fashioned neg
lected looking building in the neighbor
hood of Russell Square, and he was the
sole occupant. A charwoman came
for an hour every morning and made
pretence of cleaning up generally. al
though her work consisted chiefly in
removing the ashes of the parlor
CRATE lin winter and washing the
dishes which the master had soiled the
previous day. He placed both in the
hall. for she was not admitted to the
parlor. John Breen did his own cook
ing, such as it was, at the sitting room
fire and his bed consisted of the sofa
and travelling rug in the same apart
ment. The other rooms, eight in num-
ber, of the house were unfurnishee.
On entering the hall which echoed
his steps, he locked and bolted the door
with exceeding care, and made his way
TO the parlor situated on the same
floor. 1t was necessary to unlock the
parlor door, and having done so he en-
tered and locked it again behind him.
with sheet iron and fitted with heavy
bolts fitting into sockets at top and bot
tom.
The fire, under n layer of dross.
glowed family, and was slow to ignite
the spill of paper that he presented be
tween the bars. When he did procure
a light he applied it TO Il candle on the
mantelpiece, and in its glimmer lie be-
held his face in the dirty mirror.
Yes" he muttered, ''if I'm not better
by tomorrow I'll go to the chemist. l
can't afford TO be i'll. I'm glad didn't
90 to doctor close at hand. He might
have found out who l was and insisted
on attending me. How my head does
acher
He sat down in the worn out easy
chair and inserted few slips of wood
between the bars of the CRATE. Small
flames pierced the blanket of dross.
and presently he set a little Kettle on
the hottest part.
"A cup of tea will pull me together"
He rose and crossed the room TO Il
bookcase void of books From lower
shell he took loaf of bread and a cut
carried them to the table close to the
side of the easy chair.
Then suddenly he began TO smile and
rub his hands softly. The window
shutters, iron bound like the door, Were
closed and bolted, but he went over
and examined them and drew the
faded curtains together. After that
he peered into all the corners and un-
der the sofa, smiling and lingering
something in his hip pocket. John
Breen was not timid man; he was
merely careful.
When he was quite satisfied that
he was alone he went back to his easy
chair, and. stretching out his right
hand, opened the panelling at the side
of the fireplace, disclosing the door of
small but apparently deep and SUI
premely strong safe. Inserting Il
couple of keys, he manipulated them
until the locks yielded and the stout
door swung open. The safe was
packed with little bags of gold. par
cells of notes and bundles of negotiable
securities. The latter papers repre-
sented John Breen's capital-his
fathers legacy TO bim-the notes and
gold the interest, less his trifilng ex-
penses. of nearly thirty years. The
Investments were as safe as the ma
TONS credit. and the owner had never
sought to alter them for others bring
ing larger return. The stream of
gold from them may not have satisfied
him with its bulk, but at least it was
s.tsdy. and he loved TO mark on a