The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-08-16


Maybe there's writing" ne said.
Father Ddugherty looked long and
thoroughly. running his thin hand
deep into pigeOn-holeS and back into
the partitions. until the sleeves OF his
shabby coat were pushed far up his
lean wrist
Not scrap he said.
Then. maybe" But MCQuirk drew
Bretzenger away. and they went into
the darkness that lay thick az dust
/ in the back OF the long room. Mean
while. Father Daugherty searched the
safe through and through. He found
( nothing more. The stronghold had
had but one purpose. and il had served
il well. Then slowly. painfully. with
the clumsy. unaccustomed fingers that
had had small chance To count money,
| he turned the packages over counting
them carefully. wetting his trembling
! fingers now and then. The man who
! had drilled the safe stood looking on.
with eyes that widened more and
more
Niow much IS there. Father" he
said, at length. He extended a grimy
! forefinger hesitatingly. as If 10 touch
! the package the priest balanced on his
palm. But he did not touch II, any
more than If il had been something
sacred in that clean. sacerdotal hand.
Fifty thousand" the priest an
swered. His voice was a trifle husky.
Fifty thousand" the man ex-
claimed. And then he added, in awe:
Dollars, Doesn't look like that much,
does it,"
No" Father Daugherty answered.
He had been a little surprised HIM
self. There was something disappOint-
ing in the size Of the package. He
had never seen so much money be-
fore, and its tremendous power. its
tremendous power for evil. as he sud
denly thought. was concentrated in a
compass so small that the mind could
but slowly wheel about to the new con-
ception. The locksmith spoke.
Might might hold it second
in my own hand?" he said.
The priest gave the bundle into the
hand hardened by so much honest toll.
The man held it, heaving 1t up and
down incredulously. testing its weight.
Then he gave it back.
Thanks" he said, and sighed.
The two aldermen had returned
from their little conference.
Your reverence" began McQuirk
hesitatingly, m ht we have a word
with you-in private?" He looked sus-
piciously at the workman. The priest
went with them a little way apart
I'VE know about that McQuirk
pointed to the bundle.
You do, do you?" said the priest
sharply.
Yes, father Bretzenger said.
"It's-it's-well. it belongs to the
company. sir"
What company"
well you know, the new ga-ah
that is. Mr. Baldwin, the lawyer. YOU
know him."
George r." asked Father Daugh
erty.
Yes, your reverence" said botf
men hopefully. ut should go back tc
him"
The priest looked at them, and they
caught again that amused expression
in his face. II put them i'll at ease
and it reused resentment in Bretzen
ger. who felt that this calm prizes
could read him too well.
None of it belongs to you, then.
suppose?" observed Father Daugh
erty
"Ah, well-of course" McQuirl
urged, and his tone showed that HI
was trying, in his crude way. 20 i'm
press the priest with an honest dis
kinterestedness. "Of course, Jimmy
was entitled to his piece"
Sure" Bretzenger said, swellin.
with the little virtue he had found Il
, help him.
But you say it ought to go bacl
to Baldwin, eh?'
: That's what we think. sir" the,
chimed.
We'll. he can come and identify it,
said Father Daugherty. He slOwE
wrapped the package up. and. unbut
toning his long. rusty coat a little wa!
down from the throat, stuffed th'
money into an inner pocket. Thu
! deed seemed to madden Bretzenger
and he moved step forward. Thu
two others saw his motion. Thu
! priest did not move but he turned
: look on them. and raised his hand, ant
;. McQuirk quailed, a superstitious fea
5 In his eyes. He stiffened his arm be
: fore BretzenCer, and stayed him Ant
i then the priest stepI ed quietly to tn
4 safe, and pushed its door to with al
D arm that seemed too weak and frai
. to stir the heavy steel.
I at looks TO me. Michael" he wa
! saying gently. as If addressing Nc
e Quirk alone, like personal property
! and. as I'm the administrator I sur
4 pose I'll have to take charge of II.
! any beside our dead friend own il. lie
e them come forward and prove thei
2 claim. and identify their property +
open court
: Father Dargherty reported III
whole affair TO the probate court. an
r the Judge when the time for film
s claims had elapsed, and he had waite
/ for the particular claim he Fne'
a would not be presented. ordered a dis
n tribution of the PRO erty. Then F;
o Their Daugherty went 20 the fiat 10 SO
# Annie. bearing the bundle. the originS
r bundle. the bundle that had bougt
q the new gas franchise. Something {