Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1913-10-16
What VIII
Become Of Annie?
,C oncluded from third page

urged, and his tone showed that he
was trying, in his crude way, to i'm
press the priest with an honest dis
interestedness. "Of course, Jimmy
was entitled to his piece
"Sure!" Bretzenger said, swelling
with the little virtue he had found to
help him.
But you say 1t ought to go back
to Baldwin, eh?"
"That's what We think, sir" they
chimed
"Well. he can come and identify it,
said Father Daugherty. He slowly
wrapped the package up, and, unbut-
toning his long rusty coat little way
down from the throat, stuffed the
money into an inner pocket. The
deed seemed to madden Bretzenger
and he moved step forward. TIE
two others saw his motion. The
priest did not move, but he turned
look on them, and raised his hand and
McQuirk quailed, supersttious fear
in his eyes. He stiffened his arm be-
fore Bretzenger, and stayed him. And
then the priest stepped quietly to the
safe, and pushed its door TO with an
arm that seemed too weak and frail
to stir the heavy steel.
ut looks to me, Michael" he was
saying gently, as If addressing Nc
Quirk alone, '1lke personal property
and. as I'm the administrator. sup
pose III have to take charge of it, II
any beside our dead friend own it, LET
them come forward and prove theii
claim, and identify their property "
open court"
Father Daugherty reported thu
whole affair to the probate court, ant
the Judge when the time for Aims
claims had elapsed, and he had waited
for the particular claim he knew
would not be presented, ordered dis
tribution Of the property. Then ia
ther Daugherty went to the fiat to se
Annie, bearing the bundle. the origina
bundle. the bundle that had bough
the new gas franchise. Something o
the dramatic quality In the situation
had got into the old priests heart
He knew that Annie would appreciate
It all so much better If she could sc
the fortune. and feel It. and he woul
let her do so for an instant before h
put It away in the safety deposi
vaults TO await opportunity for its II
Vestment
She looked at II long and long, l.
ing there in the lap of her black gowl
She could not grasp the amour
though the old priest, leaning forwar,
with the enthusiasm Of boy shinin
once more, after so many years. |
his hollow eyes, said over and over:
Look at It, my child! Feel II
It's fifty thousand dollarsi And II
all yours!"
She pattod 1t, teuderly and affe
tionately, with a soft and reminlscei
caress. so that the priest knew thu
it was not for anything that packae
Iof money might hold for her in
material way. then or afterward, bl
rather for what It gave back for
to her desolated heart AT
the priest wa els,i OF that. and ther
after silent. He had>nad doubts. +
would feel better when the money hs
passed out of his hands, and
sometimes questioned whether
would ever do good in any one
hands. But he had sense OF hume
too, a grim sense in this instanc
when he thought Of certain polite
and financial circles. even II he d
dust his thin hands carefully with h
spotless handkerchief when he Ia
the money down.
Annie's eyes had filled with II
ready tears that weled TO their swee
ing, black lashes, and trembled the
as she raised her eyes TO him.
"Ah, father" she said, "he was s
so good to me. always-and so kin'
And see how thoughtful he was
leave me all this! oh, Jimmy, n
poor Jimmy!"
And she rocked forward, like an o
woman, and went.