The Ely miner., 1913-08-15

nave cursed Jimmy just then Tor MS
excessive caution. It was McQuirks
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.
"Not 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 strong-box had
had but one purpose, and it had served
It we'll. Then slowly, painfully, with
the clumsy, unaccustomed fingers that
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 a grimy
forefinger 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 trifie 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 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 it's 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 a 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 it up and
down incredulously, testing it's weight.
Then he gave it back.
Thanks" he said, and sighed.
The two aldermen had returned
from their little conference.
Your riverence,' 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.
eve know about that" McQuirk
pointed to the bundle.
"You do, do your" said the priest
sharply.
Yes, father" Bretzenger said.
Its it's-well, 1T 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 both
men hopefully. "It should go back to
him"
The priest looked at them, and they
caught again that amused expression
in his face. 1t put them ill at ease,
and it reused resentment in Bretzen-
ger, who felt that this calm priest
| could read him too WELL
None of it belongs to you, then, 1
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 to
help him.
But you say it ought to go back
to Baldwin, eh?"
That's what we think, SIR" they
chimed.
We'll, 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. The
two others saw his motion. The
priest did not move, but he turned a
look on them, and raised his hand, and
McQuirk quailed, 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 it's door to with an
arm that seemed too weak and frail
to stir the heavy steel.
"It 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 It, If
any beside our dead friend own it, 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 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 in the situation
| ;xfo &ho oII