The Elbert County tribune., 1905-11-16

| calendar the days on which lie would
present his coupons with the certainty
of receiving the value printed thereon.
This very day he had collected the
interest represented by certain eou-
pons, and now he brought from his
breast Il dark soft leather bag and
poured the tinkling contents on the
table-one hundred and twenty-five
pounds.
He began TO count the soyereigns,
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" ne
sighed, lying back wearlly. 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 Il 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 a the poor
light of the candle and the increasing
glow of the fire. which Jailed to make
clear the poverty and wretchedness
of his surroundings. he might have
been taken for well to do and rather
handsome elderly gentleman enjoying
a nap.
The kettle was dry and ruined. the
fire was almost out, and the candle
was within an inch of its socket, when
John Breen came back to life aga-l.
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 n cheese,
but being .sperately hungry he cut
a piece of the former and ate a por-
tion. He was chilly, too, and felt
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 l might have oied to-
night. l 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 noap at his feet, and began
to reckon his future. 1t was easily
done. for each bag was stImped with
''t50O." while each bundle of securi-
ties had slip of paper attached bear
ing Its approximate value. Besides,
he found no difficulty in counting now.
The grand total came TO few hum
dreds and odd over eighty thousand
bounds.
Il must leave this accused house
ct once" he said, suddenly. Il must
lose no time or | may be too late"
Within an hour he left the house In
cab with couple of ancient port
manteaus. In his pocket he carried n
letter addressed TO his charwoman.
and containing instructions for her not
to call un". notified TO do so, which
he intended TO post at the first oppor-
tunity. The letter also contained ten
five pound notes
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 fairly good supper before
retiring. He slept little. for he had
many plans to make for the morrow.
sun. he arose in the morning with
nothing worse thal 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-
volver in his hip pocket troubled him
He did not know what to do with 1t,
and he was afraid to unload 1t lest it
be discharged. For the time being he
decided to lock it in a drawer in his
bedroom.
He spent the fornoon in studying
the newspapers, and In the afternoon
he paid n visit TO the poorest quarters
of the East End, returning, with n
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 call
upon him-prosperous looking gentle
men and fine ladies-and earnest con
versations took place in the elegant
sitting room he had engaged in nddi-
tion to his bedroom. Other Ian and