The Grit-advocate., 1905-11-17

So~ flight of steps, his grayish
countenance working with fury.
a guinea for prescribing more rest
and nourishment, plus a bottle of drug
9ist's tilth"' lie muttered. What on
earth possessed me to consult him."
Reaching the pavement he began to
walk swiftly, but throbbing. behind
the old scar on his temple compelled
him to sacken his pace.
Il suppose it was that that made mn
take fright" he said TO himself. Il
never used to have headaches. If I'm
not better by tomorrow I'll take his
prescription to the chemist, though
believe it's all nonsense"
A hanson driver hailed him inviting
ly, but he shook his head impa tiently,
and quickened his steps in spite of the
dull throbing that caused him TO half
close his eyes. 1t was a chilly evening.
and as he turned from the quiet street
into the busy thorOughfare sleet began
to fall. but instead of taking bus he
set out to walk the two miles that lay
between him and his place OF abode.
He arrived at his door wet and shiv.
ering.
His home was an old fashioned. neg
lected looking building in the neighbor-
hood of Russell Square. and lie was the
sole occupant. A charwoman came
for an hour every morning and made
pretence of cleaning up generally. al
though her work consisted chiefly in
removing the ashes of the parlor
crate lin winter) and washing the
dishes which the master had soiled the
previous day. He placed both in the
Hhall, for she was not admitted to the
Ifjarlor. John Breen did his own cook
ing, such as it was, at the sitting room
fire and his bed consisted of the sofa
and travelling rug in the same apart
ment. The other rooms, eight in num-
Der, of the house were unfurnisheG
On entering the hall, which echoed
his steps, he locked and bolted the door
with exceeding care, and made his way
10 the parlor situated on the same
floor. 1t was necessary to unlock the
parlor 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 at top and bot
tom.
The fire, under a layer Of dross.
slowed family, and was slow to ignite
the spill of paper that he presented be-
tween the bars. When he did procure
light he applied it to candle on the
mantelpiece, and in its glimmer be be-
held his face in the dirty mirror.
Yes he muttered, "if I'm not better
by tomorrow Ill go to the chemist.
can't afford to be i'll. I'm glad didn't
20 to doctor close at hand. He might
have found out who l was and insisted
on attending me. How my head does
ache"
He sat down in the worn out easy
chair and inserted few slips of wood
between the bars of the CRATE. Small
flames pierced the blanket of dross.
and presently he set little kettle on
the hottest part.
"A cup Of tea will pull me together
vile rose and crossed the room to a
bookcase void of books. From a lower
shell he took a loaf of bread and a cut
of cheese also plate and knife, and
carried 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
shutters, iron bound like the door. We're
closed and bolted, but lie went over
and examined them and drew the
faded curtains together. After that
he peered into all the corners and un-
der the sofa, smiling and lingering
something in his hip pocket. John
Breen was not timid man: he was
merely careful.
When he was quite satisfied that
he was alone he went back to his easy
chair, and, stretching out his right
hand, opened the panelling at the side
of the fireplace, disclosing the door of
small but apparently deep and su-
premely strong safe. Inserting Il
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, par
GELS of notes and bundles of negotiable
securities. The latter papers repre-
sented John Breen's capital-his
fathers legacy to him-the notes and
gold the interest, less his trifling ex
penses. of nearly thirty years. The
Investments were as safe as the ma
1ion's credit. and the owner lad never
sought to alter them for others bring
ing a larger return. The stream of
gold from them may not have satisfied
Inn with its bulk, but at least it w0s
SvSdy, and he loved to mark on