Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1905-10-26
When he was quite satisfied that he

was alone he Went back TO his easy
chair, and stretching out his right
hand opened the pancling at the side
n small but apparently deep and su-
premely strong safe inserting 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, parcels OF
notes and bundles Of negotiable securi-
ties. The latter papers represented
John Breen's capital--his fathers leg.
acy to him--the notes and gold the in.
terest, less his tritling expenses, Of
nearly thirty years. The Investments
We're as safe as the nations credit, and
the owner had never sought to alter
them for others bringing larger re-
turn. The stream of gold from theEl
may not have satisfied him with It's
bulk, but at least it was steady. and
he loved to mark on calendar the
days on which he would present his
coupons with the certainty of receiv-
ing the value printed thereon.
This very day he had collected the
interest represented by certain cou,
IONS, and now he brought from his
breast a dark soft leather bag ana
poured the tinkling contents on the
table-t125
He began to count the sovereignS.
but somehow when he came to twenty
seven he 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 lie
sighed, laying back YEARLY. "A cup
of tea will put me right
But when the kettle boiled at last he
paid no attention. The throbbing
which for some minutes had been al
most unbearable had abruptly ceased.
and Il sense of peace had descended
upon John Rreen.
His eyes closed, he lay unconscious
lis hard features wonderfully soften
ed. Strangely enough he dressed we'll,
and as he lay there in the poor light
OF the candle and the increasing glow
oe the fire, which failed to make clear
the poverty and wretchedness of his
surroundings, he might have been
taken for well-to-do and rather hand
some elderly gentleman enjoying a
nap.
The kettle was dry and ruined, the
fire was almost out, and the candle
was within an inch OF it's socket when
John Breen came back to life again.
He sat up feebly and looked curously
about him.
He felt no pain. but he was greatly
An expression of disgust
dawned upon his face when his eyes
caught sight of the bread and cheese
but being desperately hungry he cut
piece of the former and ate a portion
He was chilly. too, and felt a craving
for hot food.
Then he beheld his wealth. He began
to tremble violently and tears rolled
down his cheeks
Awestricken. he whispered to him
self. And | might have died tonight.
might have died, and no one. not
even myself, have been the better for
my having lived"
He took the notes. the bags Of goli
md the documents from the safe. laid
hem in a heap at his feet, and began
to reckon his future. 1t was easily
lone. for each bag was stamped with
1900" while each bundle Of securities
lad a slip of paper attached bearing
is approximate value. Resides, he
found no difficulty in counting now.
The grand total came to few hun
lreds and odd over eighty thousand
pounds.
II must leave this accursed house at
,nce." he said suddenly. Il must lose
20 time. or l may be too late"
Within an hour he left the house In
cab with couple of ancient port
nanteaus. In his pocket lie carried n
etter addressed to his charwoman and |
.ontaining Instructions for her not to
Intended to post at the first opportu-
lity. The letter also contained ten f5 |
notes.
1t was past midnight when he reach |
Il the large hotel in Northumberland |
Ivenue-the name Of which had some
low occurred to him as he stepped |
nto the cab-but he managed to get |
fairly good supper before retiring
Ie slept little. for he had many plans
o make for the morrow Still, he
rose in the morning with nothing
worse than a feeling Of tiredness.
which. however, seemed to affect his
memory rather strangely. For in
tance. he could not remember where
,e had come from the previous night:
nd as the day wore on he was Occa-
ionally perpleXed regarding other
matters Of the past. The bunch of
keys in his pocket puzzled
i'm, and when he happened upon the
octOr's prescription In another pocket,
e could not recollect the visit to the
hysician. Most of all. the revolver
n his hip pocket troubled him. He
i'd not know what to do with 1t, and
e was afraid to unload it lest 1t dis
harge. For the time he decided to
,ck 1t In drawer in his bedroom.
He spent the forenoon in studying
ba poucnanors and i'm tho n aftpruoOn |