Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1913-08-15

"a ASOAOAS OfCA ~ IACAT WIVES. NOW
his weary visage was relaxed in pa
tient waiting. At last the locksmith
dropped his tools, and said:
"There!'
The thick steel doors swung out on
their noiseless hinges. The two alder
men sprang to the side of the safe.
The priest drew near slowly, but his
little eyes were turned on the alder
men, and they fell back pace. Then
the priests long figure sank to a
kneeling posture, and he peered into
the safe. There was nothing in view.
It was strangely empty, for safe of
its monstrous size and mystery, and
the tenaeity. Of its combination. He
thrust in his hand and fumbled
through all its hollow interior, and
then he drew forth-a soiled linen col
lar! 1t was ludicrous, and for once
he laughed, a little laugh. There
was not a ledger, not book.
ssHe kept no accounts, your river
ence," said McQuirk.
eft was just like him." said Father
Daugherty. But he kept on with his
search. And, when he opened the lit
tie drawer of maplewood, he found a
parcel, done snugly up in thick brown
paper. He tore it open, and there
swelled into his sight packages Of
bank notes almost bursting in their
yellow paper straps. The bills were
new, and as freshly green as the
spring itself; more tempting thus,
some way, to the reluctant con-
science. The two aldermen bent over
the black, STOPPING figure OF the
priest. their eyes fixed on the money.
There it was at last, the bundle itself,
the price of, or part of the price OF
the new gas franchise. The priest
Strengthened painfully, and got to his
feet. He held the bundle in his thin
fingers, and glanced at his witnesses,
with keen and curious eye. They
met his gaze, expectant, eager, draw
ing dry, hot breaths. Involuntarily,
they extended their hands. Father
Daugherty locked at them, and lit
tie twinkle of amusement showed in
the eyes that were wontedly so mild
and sad.
would you?" he said.
The two aldermen hastily raised
their hands, and together, in strange
unison, wiped their brows. The room
had suddenly grown hot for them, and
their brows were wet, though Father
Daugherty was cool and composed, as
he ever was. Yet they remembered;
they could not SO easily give up; it
was theirs by every right. They could
have cursed Jimmy just then for his
excessive caution. 1t was McQuirk's
quick mind that thought first
Maybe there's writing" he said.
Father Daugherty 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.
mot scrap" he said.
"Then, maybe" But McQuirk drew
Bretzenger away and they went into
the darkness that lay thick as 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 it had served
it 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.
"How much is there, Father?" he
said, at length. He extended grimy
forefnger hesitatingly, as if to touch
the package the priest balanced on his
palm. But he did not touch it, any
more than if it 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 e1-
claimed. And then he added, in awe:
Dollars! Doesn't look like that much,
does it?"
mo-" Father Daugherty answered.
He had been 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 I-hold it second
lin my own hand?" he said
The priest gave the bundle into the
hand hardened by so much honest toll.
The man held it, heaving it 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, might we have a word
with you-in private?" He looked sus-
piciously at the workman. The priest
went with them a little way apart.
1--WE know about that" McQuirk