Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-09-09
THE WISER.

closed almost nOlSeleSSiy ana JOhn Bfeen
went slowly down the short fight of
steps, his grayish countenance working
with fury.
"A guinea for prescribing more rest
and nourishment, plus Il bottle of drug
gist's filth"' he muttered. What on
earth possessed me to consult himf"
Reaching the pavement, he began to
walk swiftly. but Il throDbing behind the
old scar on his temple compelled him 10
slacken his pace.
Il suppose II was That that made ms
take fright" lie said to himself. I
never used to have headaches. |"
il I'm not better by tomorrow Iii take
his prescription to the chemist, though L
believe it's all nonsense"
hanSome driver hailed him invir-
ingly, but he shook his head inpatient
ly. and quickened his steps in spite of the
dull throbbing that caused him to half
close his eyes. 1t was q chilly evening,
and, rs he turned from the quiet street
into the busy thoroughfare sleet began
to fan but instead of taking bus he
set out to walk the two miles that lay
between him and his place of abode.
His home was an Old-fashioned, neg
lected looking building in the nelghbor-
hood of Russell Square, and he was the
sole occupant. a charWOman came for
tense of cleaning mp generally, although
her work consisted chiefly in removing
the ashes of the parlor CRATE lin winter
and washing the dishes which her master
had soiled the previous day. lie placed
both in the hall, for she was not adj
mitted to The parlor. John Brcen lid
his own cooking, such as it was, at the
sitting-room fire. and his bed consisted
of the sofa and Il travelling rug i'll tho
same apartment The other rooms, eight
in number, of the house were unfuF-
nished.
steps, he locked and bolted the door With
exceeding care, and made his way in the
dark to the parlor situated on the same
floor. 1t was necessary to unlock the
paIlor door. and having done so he en-
tered and locked it again behind him.
The inside of the door was covered with
sheet iron and fitted with heavy bolts
fitting into sockets ut top and bottom.
The fire, under layer of dross.
glowed family, and was slow to ignite
the spill of paper that he presented hee
tween the bars. When he did procure
light he applied it TO a candle ON the
mantelpiece and in its glimmer he behed
his face in the dirty mirror.
Yes" he muttered, If I'm not better
by tomorrow I'll go to the chemist.
can't afford to be i'll. I'm glad | didn't
20 to a doctor close at hand He might
have found out who | was and insisted
on attending me. How my head does
ache"
He sat down in the WORKOUT easy
chair and inserted Il few slips of wood
between the bars of the CRATE Small
flames pierced the blanket of drOss, and
presently he set a little kettle on the
hottest part.
~ cup of ten will pull me together
lie rose and crossed the room to a
bookcase void of books. From a lower
| shelf he took Il loaf of bread and n cut of
ried them to the table close to the side
of the easy chair.
Then suddenly he began to smile and
rub his hands softly. The window shut
! tiers. ronbound like the door, wera
! closed and bolted, but he went over and
| examined them and drew the faded cur
! talns together. After that lie peered into
| all the corners and under the sofa. smi-
| Ing and lingering something in his hin
| pocket John Breen was not a tinl1
man: he was merely careful.
| When he was quite satisfied that he
! was alone he went back to his easy
! chair, and stretching ont his right hani
opened the paneling at the side of f6e
| fireplace, disclosing the door of a small
/ but apparently deep and supremely strong
! safe. Inserting couple of KEYS. ha
manipulated them until the locks yielded
| and the stout door swung open. The
safe was packed with little bags of cold
parcels OF notes and bundles of negotl-
able securities. The latter papers rem
resented John Breen's capital-his ia
therS legacy To him--the notes and gold
the interest, less his trifiing expenses. of
nearly thirty years. The investments
We're as safe rs the nations credit. and
Tue owner mad never sought to alter
iHem Tor others bringing larger return
The stream of gold from them may NOT
nave satisfied him with its bulk. but at
leaSl II was steady, and he loved to
mark ON calendar the days on which
/ ne would present his coupons with the
certainty of receiving the value printed
thereon
This very day he had collected the in-
tereSt represented 10y certain coupons.
and now he brought from his breast
[ dark soft leather bag and poured the
tuEng contents on the table-t125.
lie began to count tie soNereiguS. but
somehow when he came to twenty-seven
he could not proceed.
He tried again. with the same result.
Ills head ached more than ever, but
he made another attempt-and failed.
= Il wish the kettle would boil he
sighed laying back YEARLY. a cup Of
tea Will put me right.
But when the kettle boiled at last he
paid no attention. The throbbug, which
for some minutes had been almost UNI
bcarable. had abruptly ceased. and
sense of peace had descended upon John
| Ereen.
His eyes closed. be lay unconscious
his hard features wonderfully softeued.
Strangely enough he dressed well, and
aS he lay there in the poor light of the
! candle aud the increasing glow of the
fire, which failed TO make clear the pow
erty and Indebtedness of his surround
ings, he might have been taken for
wellto-do and rather handsome elderly
! gentleman enjoying nap.
The kettle was dry and ruined. Tie fire
was almost out. and the candle was
within an inch of its socket when John
Breen came back to life again. He say
up feebly and looked curiously about
him.
He felt no pain. but he was greatly