Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-08-16

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.
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"
We'll, 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 both
men hopefully. 1T should go back to
him"
The priest looked at them, and they
caught again that amused expression
in his face. 1t put them i'll at ease,
and it reused resentment in Bretzen-
ger, who felt that this calm priest
could read him too we'll
None of it belongs to you, then, |
suppose?" observed Father Daugh-
erty.
"Ah, well-of course" McQuirk
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 10
help him.
But you say it 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 a step forward. The
two others saw his motion. The
priest did not move. but he turned a
look ON them, and raised his hand. and
McQuirk qlailed, a superstitious 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 fra;l
to stir the heavy steel.
1T looks to me, Michael" he was
saying gently, as if addressing Nc
Quirk alone, like personal property,
and, as I'm the administrator, sup
pose I'll have to take charge of 1t. II
any beside our dead friend own II. let
them come forward and prove their
claim, and identify their property in
open court"
Father Daugherty reported the
whole affair to the probate court. and
the Judge when the time for filing
claims had elapsed, and he had waited
for the particular claim he knew
would not be presented. ordered a dis
tribution of the property. Then Fa-
ther Daugherty went to the fiat to see
Annie. bearing the bundle, the original
bundle. the bundle that had bought
the new gas franchise, Something of
the dramatic quality ia the situation
had got into the old priests heart
He knew that Annie would appreciate
1t all so much better IL she could see
the fortune. and feel it, and he would
let her do so for an instant before he
put 1t away in the safety deposit
vaults to await opportunity for its in
vestment.
She looked at 1t long and long. ly-
ing there in the lap of her black gown.
She could not grasp the amount,
though the old priest, leaning forward,
with the enthusiasm of a boy shining
once more, after so many years. in
his hollow eyes, said over and over:
Look at it, my child, Feel IT,.
It's fifty thousand dollars! And it's
all yoursi"
She patted it. tenderly and affec-
tionately, with soft and reminiscent
caress. so that the priest knew that
it was not for anything that package
of money might hold for her in
material way. then or afterward. but
rather for what It gave back for a
moment to her desolated heart. And
the priest was glad of that, and there
after silent. He had had doubts. He
would feel better when the money had