The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1871-04-09
aim, you can fire as you like, and will fire at

aim, you can fire as you like, and will fire at
the call"
Each one had three shots. and, as it was
agreed that Sam should try first, he took his
lBhots struck the pivot, ringing the bell, and
the other two were less than q quarter of an
inch from it. MacVain fred at the word,
ringing the bell and the other touched the
spring, but too lightly to stir the bell.
"Wen done, well done," cried Sam, " let's
try it over"
'sThat's not good shooting" said Macvain,
cat least down our way we would think it
poor-only one shot was fairly in the CENTRE"
don't think you can beat it," replied Sam.
"Oh, yes I can," said MacVain, smiling,
" that would never do in pigeon and squirrel
hunting"
off You are dry" said Sam, confidently, 1--WE
will take something on it that you don't beat
it this time"
lam not much in the humor for drinking"
replied Macvain, who yet felt as if he must
vindicate his skill with the weapon, bus
will take your challenge"
Sam took his place, aimed with extra care,
and rang the bell with his first two shots, but
success and eagerness to do we'll made him aim
q little unsteady, and the third shot missed the
centre by the smallest fraction of distance.
THAT was very well done, for steady aim,"
said MacVain, who now took his position. and,
as the word was given, fired with quick but
careful aim. His three shots rang the bell,
two of them striking fair in the center.
"By Jove, that is good shooting" exclaimed
Sam.
First rate! splendid ~ exclaimed the keep
er, with an admiring look at MacVain.
"What will you drink, sir 7" asked Sam.
excuse me-" replied MacVain, ~ really
"Oh that will never do," said Sam, "you
must take something. Come now, it's q cold
night, take hot Tom and Jerry; of al! the
PLACES in New York, this is the best for Tom
and Jerry"
Every WE'LL" said Macvain, yielding reluct-
antly to Sans importantly.
They rang the bell and gave the order to the
servant when he came, Sam in his good nature
including the keeper in the order. The foam
ing beverage, smoking hot, was compounded
just right, and they all pronounced it the best
After finishing his glass, MacVain said he
must go, and Sam replied that he had stayed
long enough himself and would go short dis
tance with him. AS MacVain returned to the
bar room, he looked about him again, wonder
ing where the woman had gone that he was
following when he entered the place
"You are a stranger here' said Sam, in
al am not a citizen of New York." replied
MacVain, =" but have spent great deal of
time here"
and drawing him tow ards the side street, "I'll
show you sight, the like of which you never
saw BEFORE"
They passed through the door into q long.
narrow passage or hall, under the sidewalk of
the side street. Along this was ranged q
dozen or more stalls small apartments,
separated by a thin board partition, and all
having door opening into the hall. In each
one of these there was q long, rongh table,
with benches running around it for seats.
When MacVain entered this place he started
eyes. The hall was crowded with women like
those he had seen on Broadway, whohad taken
refuge here from the cold of the street. Some
were Laughing and relating their experiences
of the night With loud words and rude jests,
others were singing the rough street songs of
the day, others were in the stalls, lndulging in
such drinks and refreshments as their scanty
means would afford, while many were loung-
ing around, waiting for the appearance of some
one from whom they could beg the means to
pay for something to satisfy their hunger or
When the men entered crowd gathered
around them, asking for some refreshments.
All sorts of drinks and an endless variety of
arans ea%s
Vain felt sick at heart for the degradation he
witnessed.
"Take care, get out of the way" said a
young girl, pushing the others aside and pre-
senting herself before him, this is a friend of
mine, and 1 know he'll stand treat for the
crowd, if you will only keep quiet" -.
"My God! Cecilia, you here| exclaimed
MacYain.
a. Yes, it's me-" replied the girl, much sur
prised that he should remember her, then half
fearing that he would demand n return of the
money she had cheated him out of, she re-
pretted having spoken to him. If she had
known how little he valued money, or yet, if
an idea of why he felt so strong an interest in
her had crossed her mind, she would have had
no such feeling. Remembering how his sombre
manner had impressed the girl before, and be-
lisving that it was the cause of her not return
ing to him the following day, he resolved not
to awaken her suspicion by questioning her
too closely, or frighten her away by reproof
! for being in such company. Assuming care
less freedom he was far from feeling, he ordered
one of the walters to take the orders of the
crowd, and requested sellwell to join them.
That gentleman was astonished at this change
in his companion, with whose reserved and
| digniied manner he had been deeply impress
ed. Nothing in the city was new to him. how
ever, and he accepted the invitation with q
| cordial appreciation.