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

>seSS HE door of the doctors
Z house was closed almost
6 noiselessly. and John Breen
L = went slowly down the short
xo< flight of steps. his grayish
,uutenance working with fury.
A guinea for prescribing more rest
,-d nourishment. plus bottle of drug
-Ss fifth" he muttered. What or
s,rth possessed me to consult HING"
Reaching the pavement he began to
walk swiftly. but throbbing behind
,be old scar on his temple compelled
him 10 slacken his pace.
4 suppose it was that that made me
ske fright" he said to himself. Il
ravar used to have headaches. If I'm
nj better by tomorrow I'll take his
inscription to the chemist, though l
b,lieve its all nonsense
banSom driver hailed him inviting
but he shook his head impatiently.
s-I Quickened his steps in spite of the
isl rlrobing that caused him to half
fose his eyes. 1t was L chilly evening.
,1l as he turned from the quiet street
n0 The busy thoroughfare sleet began
"a td!l. but instead OF taking a bus he
= out 10 walk the two miles that Law
between him ana his place of abode.
h arrived at his door wet and shiv-
ei1g
His home was an old fashioned. neg
h,,ei looking building i'll the neighbor-
tNi Of Russell Square. and he was the
se occupant. A charwoman came
ts- II hour every morning and made a
p-a-ance OF cleaning UP generally. al
h1ugh her work consisted chiefly in
ren1ying the ashes of the parlor
cate in winter and washing the
isles which the master had sOiled the
(-eyi0uS day. He placed both in the
ball. Tor she was not admitted to the
uri0r John Breen did his own cook
Jig. such as it was. at the sitting room
ire and his bed consisted OF the sofa
sud q travelling rug in the same apart
ueli. The other rooms. eight in num-
tsr Of the house were unfurnished.
On entering the hail, which echoed
Is steps he locked and bolted the door
With exceeding care. and made his way
o lie parlor situated on the same
flor 1t was necessary to unlock the
fa-lor door. and having done so he en-
t5-eI and locked it again behind him.
he inside of the door was covered
tlIs fitting into sockets at top and bot
tn
Tie fire. under a layer of dross.
s9Ted family, and was slow to ignite
o. spill OF paper that he presented be-
Heel tie bars. When he did procure
-slt lie applied it to a candle on the
l2lteipiece. and in its glimmer he be-
Ill lis face i'll the dirty mirror.
les. he muttered. IF I'm not better
Z tomorrow I'll go to the chemist. l
Il afford TO be i'll. I'm glad didn't
.'i5 doctor close at hand. He might
-7a found out who 1 was and insisted
Z attending me. How my head does
rLe.~
IL sat down in the worn out easy
-a-s and Inserted few slips Of wood
s'Veen the bars of the crate. Small
zines pierced the blanket of dross,
40 presently he set 4 little kettle on
ne hottest part.
4 cup Of tea will pull me together"
ar rose and crossed the room to 4
'eaeaSe void of books. From a lower
w.. lie took loaf of bread and a cut
1-eeSe, also plate and knife. and
a,'-d them to the table close to the
S.e 81 the easy chair.
i4el suddenly he began to smile and
~ LIS hands softly. The window
;sefS. iron bound like the door, were
.9SVd and bolted. but he went over
~ examined them and drew the
~'Fa curtains together. After that
peefed into all the corners and I'M
ue sofa, smiling and lingering
~ -FAlns in lis hip pocket. John
-eea was not a timid man; he was
Iseiy careful.
'1en he was quite satisfied that
"ds alone he went back to his easy
t.s,' and. stretching out his right
g - opened the panelling at the side
,-e fireplace, disclosing the door of
No. Val Out apparently deep and SUI
nr-' strong safe. Inserting
No., .R'e q Keys, he manipulated them
d. 'ne locks yielded and the stout
s,s. swung open.. The safe was
81, u with little bags of gold, par
Co. ~ notes and bundles of negotiable
., ,-t'les The latter papers repre-
:,,t AN John Breen's capitalists
mia legacy to him-the notes and
a.s,~ ue interest, less his trif1ing ex-
M OF nearly thirty years. The
to,.s 1'eilts We're as safe as the ma
snn V'edit. and the owner had never
il, u alter them for others bring
s1is 'dfser return. The stream of
lin - -on them may not have satisfied
sssd ~''n It's bulk, but at least it was
tslass,, and he loved to mark on a
psss aar the days ON which he would
Of raa . lis coupons with the certainty
1b;s s''ihs the value printed thereon.
atsra,.' very day he had collected the
hps represented by certain cou-
i,ess. 1u now he brought from his
persa aark soft leather bag and
ebla ue tinkling contents on the
Bound ue hundred and twenty-five
H. !,
ut SOD San to count the s0vereigns,
ksep eAow when he came to twenty
g. + ae could not proceed.
Iii -, leu again with the same result.
Z mad ached more than ever. but
another attempt-and failed.