The Ordway new era., 1905-11-17

calendar the days on which he would
present his coupons with the certainty
of receiving the value printed thereon.
This very day he had collected the
interest represented by certain con.
pons, and now he brought from his
breast dark soft leather bag and
poured the tiuaIing contents ON the
table-one hundred and twenty-five
pounds.
lie began 10 count the sover.icns.
but somehow when he came TO twenty.
seven lie could not proceed
| He tried again with the same result.
| His head ached more than ever. but
he made another attempt-and failed.
Il wish the kettle would boil" nc
sighed. lying back wearily. "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 nnbearable, 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 10 make
clear the poverty and wretchcdness
OF his surroundings, he might have
been taken for well 10 do and rather
handsome elderly gentleman enjoying
n nap.
The kettle was dry and ruined. the
fire was almost ont and the candle
was within an inch OF Its socket. when
John Breen came back 10 life aga y.
He sat up fe,bly and looked curlously
about him.
He felt no pain, hut he was greatly
puzzled. An expression of disgust
dawned upon his face when his eyes
caught sight OF the bread ;-d cheese.
but being desperately hungry he cut
n piece Of the former and ate n por-
tion. He was chilly. too, and felt
a craving for hot food
Then he beheld his wealth. He he.
| gan TO tremble violently, and tears
rolled down his cheeks
Awe stricken be whispered TO him
self: And / might have oied to-
night. 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 heap at his feet, and began
to reckon his future. 1t wac easily
done. for each bag was stimped with
'f5OO," while each bundle OF securi
ties had slip of paper attached bear.
Ing its approximate value Besides,
lie found no difficulty in counting now.
The grand total came TO few hun
dreds and odd over eighty thousand
pounds.
| Il must leave this accI-sed house
at once" he said. suddenly. Il must
lose no time or ! may be too LATE
| Within an honr he left the house in
n cab with couple of ancient port
manteaus. In his pocket he carried u
letter addressed to his cbarwoman.
and containing instructions for her not
TO call unt.. :.otified TO do so. which
he intended 10 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 Norihum-
berland avenue-the name Of which
had somehow occurred 10 him ns 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 n 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-
yolver in his hip pocket troubled him.
He did not know what to do with 1t,
and he was afraid to unload 1t lest II
be discharged. For the time being he
| decided to lock ii in drawer In his
bedroom.
He spent the fornoon In studying
the newspapers, and in the afternoon
| he paid 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.
/ u few days later people began to CAL
lupon him prosperous. looking gentle
|Inex ana Ans IadieI-and earnest ccn.l
kvnpSafi0ns tpok place dn ~ SAlee.n& I.
k6lfttGs noo1t ~ 40 ehxee - ia essqs.
1li ~ his y sds6Sfn! 0shsr ~ and