Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-11-23

| 10 Alt6l l-om lOT Otutfh DhihhthS
larger return. The stream of gold
from them nay not have satisfied him
With its bulk, but at least 1t was
steady, and be loved to mark on
calendar the days on which he would
present his coupons with the certainty
Of receiving the value printed thereon.
He beSRn to count the sovereigns,
but somehow when he came to ~
he could not proceed.
He tried again. with the same re-
suit.
His head ached more than ever but
be made another attempt-and failed.
II wish the kettle would boil" he
sighed. lying 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 a sense of peace had descended
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 in the poor
light Of the candle and the increasing
glow of the fire, which failed to make
clear the poverty and wretchedness
of his surroundings, he might have
been taken for a well-to-do and rather
handsome elderly gentleman enjoying
q nap.
The kettle was dry and ruined, the
Gre was almost out and the candle was
within an inch of its socket, when
John Breen came back to life again.
He sat up feebly 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 and cheese,
but being desperately hungry he cut
a piece of the former and ate a por-
ton. 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 I might have died 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 be-
gan to reckon his future. 1t was
easily done, for each bag was stamped
with &c $780," while each bundle OF Sc
curities had a slip Of paper attached,
bearing It's approximate value. Be
sides, he found no difficulty in count
ing now.
The grand total came to few hun
dreds and odd Of over $4,000.
Il must leave this accursed house at
once" he said, suddenly. II must lose
no time or may be too late"
Within an hour he left the house
in a cab, with a couple Of ancient
portmanteaus In his pocket he car
ried a letter addressed to his char.
woman. and containing instructions for
her not to call until notified to do
so, which he intended to post at the
first opportunity. The letter also con-
tanned ten 25 notes.
1t was past midnight when he
reached the large hotel in Northum-
berland avenue-the name Of which
had somehow occurred to him az he
stepped into the cab-but he managed
somehow to get fairly good supper
before retiring.
He spent the forenoon in studying
the newspapers and in the afternoon
he paid a visit to the poorest quar-
ters Of the east end, returning with
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
gentlemen and fine ladies-and earn
est conversations took place in the
elegant sitting-room he had engaged
In addition to his bedroom. Other
mon and women, pinched and sad, be-
gan to watch for his coming to their
miserable dwellings.
And nearly three months went past