Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-08-11
n9elghbcrs that they swallowed the won

the precaution to hide the property himself,
which materially increased his chances Of
finding it, passed for a seer.
One fine day Squire Ormsby learned to
MS d1smay that his pantry had been broken
into and q mass of valuable plate taken.
Mr.. Ormsby was much distressed, not only
on account of the value but the length Of
time certain pieces had been in his family.
He distrusted the police and publicity in
these cases, and his wife prevailed on him
to send for Patrick O'Rafferty.
That worthy came and heard the story.
He looked at the lady and gentleman, and
MS self-deception began to ooze out of him.
70 humbug his humble neighbors was not
difficult nor dangerous, but to deceive and
then undeceive and disappoint his land
lord was quite another matter.
DE put on humility, and said this was a
matter beyond him entirely. Then the
Squire was angry, and said bitterly: "No
doubt he would rather oblige his %neighbors,
than the man whose land had fed him and
his for fifty years" He was proceeding in
the same strain when poor Pat, with that
dismal whine the merry soul was subject
to occasionally, implored him not to MUIR
der him entirely with hard words ;he would
do his best.
N man can do more" said Mr.. Ormsby.
"Now how will you proceed? Can We rem
der you any ass~istance?"
Patrick said, humbly and in a downcast
way, ne would like to see the place where
the thieves got in.
examined it inside and out, and all ssery-
ants peeped at him.
"What nextY' asked the Squire.
Then Patrick inwardly resolved to get a
good dinner out of this business, however
humiliating the end of it might be. "Sorr,"
to myself, and q rump.steak and onions;
and after that your servants must bring me
three pipes and three pints of home-brewed
ale. Brewers ale hasn't the same spiritual
effect on a seer's mind"
The order was given, and set the kitchen
on fire with curiosity. Some disbelieved his
powers, but more believed them, and cited
the jewelers. business and other exam
pies.
When the first pipe and pint were to go
to him a discussion took place between the
magnates of the kitchen who should take it
up. At last the butler and the housekeeper
insisted on the footman taking it. Accord.
ingly he did so.
Meantime Patrick sat in state digesting
the good food. He began to feel a physical
only regretted that he had confined his de-
mand to one dinner and three pots. To him
in this frame of mind entered the footman
with pipe and pint of ale as clear as Ma
deria.
Says Patrick, looking at the pipe, "This
The footlnan put the things down rather
hurriedly and vanished.
"H'r~oph," isaid Pat to himself, "you don't
seem are for my company"
He slipped and smoked, and his mind
worked.
The footman went to the butler with a
scared face, and said: 81 won't go near him
again; he said I was one."
"Nonsense! ~ said the butler; "Illtake up
the next.o
IT, IA 90 - -: 49,
the pipe and said, sotto voce:
ssThis is the second;; - then, very regret
fully? "Only one more to come.
III butler went away much discomposed,
and told the h~ousekeeper.
81 can't believe it," said she. ANYWAY,
Ill know the worst"
SO in due course she took up the third
pint and pipe, and wore propitiatory smiles.
"'This is the last of 'em," said Patrick,
solesmnly, and looked at the glass.
The housekeeper went down all in a fiut-
ter. "We are found out, we are ruined,"
said she. .There is nothing to be lone now
but. Yes, there is; we must buy him,
or put the comether on him before he sees
the MASTER"
Patrick was half doing over his last pipe
and 10! three culprits on their knees to him.
With that instructive sagacity which was
his one real gift-so he underrated 1.-THE
said, with a twinkling eye:
"Och, thin, you've come to make q clane
brist of it, the three Chrischin vartues and
yourselves the throuble. Sure I know all
about it,"
"We see you do. Y,are wiser than Solo.
mon," said the housekeeper. "But sure We
wouldn't abuse your wisdom to ruin three
poor bodies like usp
"Poorw cried Patrick. 'sIs it poor We call
yourselves? Ye ate and drink like fighting
cocks; y'are clothed in silk and plush and
broadcloth, and your wages is all pocket
the man that feeds and clothes ye."
SIT is true! it is true !" cried the butler.
"He spakes like a priest said the woman.
"Oh, alanna! dom be hard on us; it is all
the DEVILS doings; he timpted US. Oh! OIL.
oh!n
Patrick, roughly. Ills it melted"
"Can you lay hands on itr'
1--WE can, every silver of it. We intinded
to put it back"
"1Hats a lie," said Patrick, firmly, but
not in the least responsibility. "Now look
male. Which would you rather do-help
me find the gimcracks, every article of 'em,
or be Jagged and scragged and stretched on
a gibbet and such like iligant diversions? '
They snatched eagerly at the plank of
minute actedunder MI. O'Rafferty's orders.
sFetch me another pint,' was his first
behest.
SAY, a dozen, if yen do us the honor to
drink it,"
"To the dickens wild your blarney! Now,
tell the master Pm at his sarvice."
"Oh, murder! what will become of us?
Would you tell him, after ALI"
Y omadhauns, can't ye listen at the
dure and hear what I tell him?"
With this understanding Squire Ormsby
was ushered in, all expectation.
eyer HOMER" said Patrick, 81 think the
power is LAYING me. I am only able to see
the half of it. Now, if you place, would
you like to catch the thieves and lose the
Silver, or to find the silver and not fine the
thievesw
"Why, the silver, to be sure." -
"Then you and my lady must go to mass
tomorrow morning, and when you come
back we will look for the silver and may be,
if we find it, your honnor will give me that
little bit of a lease"
"One thing at a time, Pat; you haven't
found the silver yet"
At nine o'clock next morning Mr.. and
Mrs. Ormsby returned from mass, and
found O'Rafferty waiting for them at their
door. He had a long walking stick with a
shining knob, and Informed them, very
solemnly, that the priest had sprinkled it
for him with holy water.