Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1872-06-04


ers, and hard riders, were never know
TO do useful thing or an unkiud &C
and who were consequently very POI
U ar with the tenants. Itneed scarce
ly be said that Poolgara was in Irelan
and that the system of management
pursued by the owners was such as t
reduce the dimensions of the estate
until when it came to the hero of thi
tale, there was little left of the an
cestral acres. But Dick Poole cared
naught for this. As long as he had
the privilege of fishing and shooting
over the old place and could procure
enough of money from his agent to
get drunk as often as he liked, he let
the world wag, and saw the property
slide from him with the equanamity of
an impecunious philosopher. He had
b.en woaned so to speak, upon the
bottle. When boy, his worthy sire
used to encourage him to sip stiff
punch from a tumbler specially re
duced in dimensions to suit his tender
years. A gun was made for him with
a similar view to the fitness Of things.
When he grew up he was presented
with larger tumbler and bigger gun,
On one occasion he rode a steeple-
chase, and when he came in winner,
his father delightedly exclaimed -
Dick I'm prouder of you this min
ute than if you wrote the Bible ~
His education was supposed to be
amply provided for when he could
hold his own with the hounds and
distinguish himself with a gun in the
boys or the stlbble.
The consequence of this hereditary
course Of training was, that Dick be-
came dead shot, and possessed a
wonderful head for whisky. He dis
posed of farm after farm of his estate,
until at length nothing was left him
but the old house, which he stuck to,
and an old retainer, Dan. Dohcrty,
who clung to his fortunes with a
hd..ity which might be described as
meicdramatic. Poole, of course, from
las habits was not a welcome guest
among the country families, though
they universally admitted his right to
consider himself of their caste. He
kept up, however, a custom Of visiting
the officers who were stationed at a
small garrison town in the neighb0r-
hood; and it was at their mess, to
which he was invited, that the circum-
stances arose, the sequel of which
rendered Ills name household word
throughout the province.
During dinner Poole conducted
himself we'll enough. He was fortu-
pately placed next quite, sucking
ensign: but when the claret was dis
posed of, when the Mayor left the
room, and strong waters were called
on, Poole laid himself out, as was
usual with him, for hard night A
few of the men, seeing the rate at
which he went, calculated on putting
him under the table; but before Dick
had shown the slightest token of undue
exhilaration, several of his enter
tanners were talking thickly and laugh
ing loudly. Hunting and shooting
stories were exchanged with a
crcscendo Of mendacity on the part
Of narrators as the night advanced.
Dick had set them all in roar by
describing how he shot down every
bird in covey save one; "and left
him." shouted Dick, Ito breed" At
length the conversation turned upon
swimming.
Talking of swimming" putin Poole,
do you know the cliffs at the seaside
Of Poolgara? I'll bet any man I'll
Jump off the highest part of those
cliffs, and carry another fellow OH my
back"
A universal burst of laughter, and
cries of "Take you up, old boy! How
much can you book for ?" greeted his
insane challenge.
When noise had somewhat subsidized
Lieutenant Browne, the senior Lieu.
tenant of the regiment, produced a
betting book, and said to Dick: "If
you are serious Poole, for hundred
you don't do it."
"Donc !" replied Dick at once, and
IL fixed there, and that the performance
was to take place on the following
Saturday.
For a wonder, Poole walked off
steadier than many of his hosts could
On that night. Lieut.. Browne ex-
pressed himself we'll in to win: "for
if the fool would be mad enough to
attempt such thing himself, there is
no one living who would be idiot
enough to 60 on his back said lie
Next morning Poole told Dan Doherty