Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-10-21


wall of his retreat, had not been in the |
hollow tree two minutes before he was
aware of the approach of two men, from
opposite directions. They were the same
two wary travellers we left in the morning,
and each was Fastening towards the shell
ter. Raggarty knew them at once
Hivin help u.s. said he, it's them two
poor divils Mat Mccarthy and Tim
Shaw! I'll trate them to fright first,
and dhram afterwards
AS the men neared each other face to
face further reserve was useless, They
boldly confronted.
'Goin' to the city, Tim?' inquired
Macarty, taking off his heavy cap and
beatingit against the tree.
No. was the rejoinder, I'm not going
furder-Pm thinking of maeing friend
herep
Does your frind expect yer?' said
Mat, cycling his acquaintance narrowly.
What do ye mane?' inquired Shaw
fiercely.
Because if he doesn't he's much like
a frind that I'm expectin' here too
There was a considerable pause.
Heard Of the stroke Of fortin that's
fell on Michael Raggarty? at last said
Shaw, making a pretence to pass his
hand over his face that he might get a
look at the other from between his fingers.
Now Michael had poked his stick half
way through the knot hole with the in
tention of giving the speaker dig in the
ribs. On hearing his name mentioned,
however, he cautiously drew the stick in
again, and placed his ear to the hole in
stead.
Yis, I have, rejoined Mccarthy, and
I've heard another thing, too, and so have
you, or I'm much mistaken
What have ye heard thin? SAID
Shaw.
Why, that this is the night he'll bring
his money home, and that this is the road
he travels
There was another pause.
Two hundthred pounds-he'll take i
in gould, too, I'll wager said Shaw.
THAT 'ud be hundthred good goult
guineas apiece said Mccarthy, as thougl
he was talking to himself, and me jis
recovered from me faverp
Botheration = said Shaw, with coun
, terfeit laugh, the cats out now. Th
fact is you have come to meet Michae
, Raggarty, and so have r. He held ou
l his hand as he spoke, which Machart.
grasped, and said,
: Its agreed on
Now Michael, within the tree, hear
t all this but instead Of calling them re
= CUES and thieves he fell to crying an
= shaking his head as d0lefuily as his i
5 mited space would admit. He ha
: known both speakers from their child
? hood; had gone cleaning and nut
ting with them and the women who wer
j now their wives, when they were a
b children together. Michael had neve
known them to do a dishonest thing b.
g fore,nor would they, he knew, have met
|, itated evils designs on his property ha
o not hunger and cold pincbed every dro
S of self respect out of them. Beside
: the temptation was very great.
It The two men waited patiently for al
1t other half hour-indeed till it was pitc
h dark-neither recurring to the bushes
IS on hand. At last Shaw started again.
K IF he don't come shortly said h
d I'll be thinking he's gone the midd
b road, and ship US after all
1t Well, it's a shtroke of Providence
= he has, said Mccarthy, for since v
a have been standing here I've hit on
ID schame l think will be safer, and |
l. which he will be less likely to come
n, harm for though l want his none
II Tim, wouldn't hurt a hair of his head
Lets hear your schame,' said Shav
lie We'll, thin,' replied Mccarthy, 'y'
+ know that Raggarty's family have le
a the ould cabin, while it's being put in 7
1t pair, though Raggarty sleeps there hir
} SELF Now I've rason to know that
lg all things Michael fears nothing so uu
* as goblins. That he won't let the mon
re out of his possession is quite certain
le lave him alone for that Now shuppo
1e that one of us rig ourselves up nate
ne shteal into his cabin tomorrow m
i'd night, make believe ghost at bis b.
side, and frighten him out of his mon,
a 1t won't be shtaling if he gives it to
lis you know ?
IS And shuppose he won't give it
at US !? suggested Shaw.
ng Why, thin, wen be obliged to ia