The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-07-19


urged. and his tone showed that 10
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 60 back
10 Baldwin. chr n
That's what We think. SIR" they
chimed.
We'll. he can come and identity IT,"
said Father Daugherty. He slowly
wrapped the package up. and. unbut.
'toning his long, rusty coat o little way
down from the throat, stuffed the
money into an inner pocket. The
deed seemed to madden Bretzenger,
land 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
iMcQuirk quailed, 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 frail
to stir the heavy steel. ..
ut looks to me. Michael" he was
saying gently. as II addressing Nc.
tQuirk alone. 'like personal property,
and. as I'm the administrator, sup.
pose I'll have to take charge OF II. II
any beside our dead friend own II. let
them come forward and prove their
claim; and identify their property iu
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 fat 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
had got into the old priests heart
He knew that Annie would appreciate
It all SO much better II she could see
the fortune. and feel II, and he would
let her do 30 for an instant before he
put 1t away in the safety deposit
vaults to await opportunity for its In.
vestment. go.
She looked att 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 o. boy shining
once more, after SO, many years. In
. his hollow eyes. said over and over:
Look at 1t. my child! Feel II!
It's fifty thousand dollars! And tie
all yours!"
She patted It, tenderly and affec.
tionately. with soft and reminiscent
caress, so that the priest knew thai
it was not for anything that package
OF money might hold for her in Q
material way. then or afterward, but
rather for what 1t gave back for q
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
passed out of his hands, and he
. sometimes questioned whether Il
would ever do good in any ones
hands. But he had sense OF humor
! too, a grim sense In this instance.
when he thought of certain political
and financial circles. even II he did
dust his thin hands carefully with hl.
sspotless handkerchief when he laid
the money down.
. Annie's eyes had filled with the
ready tears that welled to their sweep
ing, black lashes. and trembled there
as she raised her eyes to him.
"Ah. father" she said, "he was so
so good to me. always-and so kind {!
And see how thoughtful he waste
leave me all this! Oh, Jimmy, my
poor JIMMY"
And she rocked forward. like an old
woman, and wept