The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-01-04


the canal and had worked at whatever
came to his hand, for all the food and
lodging that charity had not given
him. Trapaud liked the lads facA and
took him into his service. He was
honest and Industrious, he had risen
by slow degrees, and now for seven
years he had been butler at the hall
Daniel took a pathetic pleasure in
hearing his own story recited. 1t made
him feel q kind of hero, but there was
always the ever-present ache at his
heart that he bought his proud posi-
ton at the cost of love and fear. He
was never quite one of them, but
thing apart, as man who does not
know his own surname must ever be.
Mrs. Trapaud was habitually careful
about money never leaving carelessly
about any sums, however small. She
never distrusted any of her people,
but she knew the value of the axiom
concerning the open door On this
particular morning, however, she rang
the bell for breakfast to be cleared
while the 1870 sovereigns were still ly-
ing glistening in the sun upon the ta-
BILE.
Daniel answered the summons as
usual and began to clear away. AS
he did so his eye fell on the money and
he gave little quick, sharp gasp.
Mrs Trapaud heard it and turned to
look at him.
yes, she said, cts a lot of mon
ey, isn't it, Daniel? One hundred and
thirty pounds. The bay mare and her
foal fetched it,"
Daniel murmured some reply and
went on removing the breakfast
things. Mrs. Trapaud rose, folded her
napkin leisurely, and gathering up the
gold pieces crossed to the fireplace
and put them in tidy little heap on
the mantlepiece. Then she walked
into the conservatory that opened out
of the room to see how her poinsettia
was coming on. Suddenly her pulses
stopped and her heart stood still to
listen. She heard a voice distinctly
speaking in weird, mad whisper from
the breakfast room behind.
MAKE man rich for life, it said,
and repeated the phrase like litany.
She turned
Daniel was standing near the man
telpiece, his face white as DEATH great
drops of sweat standing out upon his
brow. His fingers twitched nervously,
his eyeballs were painfully distended.
Coyetousness, avarice, greed, were
writ large upon his countenance He
looked horrible. Instinctively Mrs.
Trapaud shrank back among the
greenery to watch
make a man rich for life!" reite-
rated Daniel with curious sibilant
sound make a man rich for life
rich for life!" With one swift look in
the direction of the conservatory he
put out his hand, and with stealthy
touch nOiselessly took the gold. You
could have heard pin drop. Mrs.
Trapaud stepped quickly forward.
Daniel, what are you doing? Put
that money down"
She spoke sharply-peremptorily.
Daniel turned An ugly look came
over his face; he was dangerous.
PUT it down this minute" she said.
MAKE a man rich for life" he NUT
tered, backing to the door
Daniel are you mad? But it down
at once l say"
She had reentered the room now
and her hand was on the bell. With q
quick movement Daniel reached out
in his other fist he still clutched the
gold.
81 see" she said quietly "Then we
have been housing a thief and a muir
dered for five-and-twenty years"
The knife dropped from his hand A
violent trembling shook him in every
limb, the wild, weird look died out of
his eyes and he stood for moment
gazing dazedly at the money in his
clenched palm.
Daniel put it down. -
He crossed to the mantelpiece as
though in a dream and put the money
back where he had found it in the
spirit of little child. Then he stood
there silent, his head bowed upon his
breast.
at is the first time l have ever
known you drunk, Daniel" said Mrs.
Trapaud slowly. She laid great stress
upon the word. "Do not ever let me
see you drunk again or I shall dis
miss you. Now you may 60"
He turned and walked slowly to the
door. He had his back to her, but she
could see his shoulders heave. Pres
emily he turned again, his face still
bOu,ad ,1DOu hfc brnost