Alma record., 1913-09-25

| prisoners over to their wives. Now
his weary visage was relaxed in pa,
tient waiting At last the locksmith
dropped his tools, and said:
'"Therei"
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 we're 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
1t was strangely empty, for a safe of
| its monstrous size and mystery, and
the tenacity of its combination. He
thrust In his hand and fumbled
through all it's 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 ledger, not book.
HE kept no accounts, your river.
ence," said McQuirk.
'It 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 1t 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 eve. They
met his gaze, expectant, eager, draw
ing dry hot breaths. Involuntarily
they extended their hands. Father
Daugherty looked at them, and lit
tie twinkle Of amusement showed in
the eyes that were wontedly so mild
and sad.
"Would your" 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 80 easily give up; ii
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 strong-box had
had but one purpose, and 1t 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 a grimy
foreflnger hesitatingly, as If to touch
the package the priest balanced on his
palm. But he did not touch 1t, any
moro than if it had been something
sacred in that clean, sacerdotal hand.
Fifty thousand" the priest an.
swered. His voice was trifle 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.
lie had been a little surprised him.
self. There was something disappoint.
ng in the size Of the package. He
lad never seen so much money be-
'ore, and its tremendous power, it's
tremendous power for evil, as he sud
lenly thought, was concentrated In a
compass so small that the mind could
'ut slowly wheel about to the new con.
eption. The locksmith spoke.
Might I-might I-hold 1t a. second
in my own hand?" he said.
The priest gave the bundle into the
land hardened by 80 much honest toll.
The man held it, heaving it up and
lown incredulously, testing its weight.
Then he gave it back.
Thanks" he said, and sighed.
The two aldermen had returned
rom their little conference.
"Your riverence," began McQuirk
esitatingly, might we have a word
gith you-in private?" He looked sus.
iciously at the workman. The priest
vent with them a little way apart
1--WE know about that" McOuirk