The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-03-14

vious visit three weeks before. Just then a
msn touched me on The arm and said, Is if
h had been q thought reader
Arc We looking for q nice quiet lodging
The Eight.r
I'm not LOOKING for anything but this
wind to go down, | answered.
"it'Il he worse before it's better, said the
man casting a look ut the tall top of the
monument "Ner not thinkin' av going
away from Dublin the nightl7
"I'm thinking OF crossing the channel"
"Ohl wurra, wUrra,' cried the man, with
a despairing gesture, 1T would be u case Of
life r death wud take man out TO sea a
night liIe this
That was about my own idea OF the mat
ter, and as She wild blast gave an extra
swoop that seemed to blow out every lamp
on Sackviile street we drew closer into the
dark shelter Of tie side thorohghfarc
DO you know OF n good lodging that is
chsap;' l asked
The best in Dublin, kept by a dacent
wildly woman, and troth if the rrico don't
piaze We there's no obligation to STRAY just
slip there wild me and lux at the rooms,
and if the price and room don't plaza yc--
shure there's no harum done at all at all
is it far from here
Just a stGop.'
Everything IS Just step in Dublin
"All right l said, I'm so and see the
place
YEN be PLACED wild it, sor, he re lied as
ne led down the side street.
1t was quieter as we walked along this
street AMI my partner talked in q soft insin-
uGting, dePrecatnry sort of way. lie struck
me rs man whom life had completely
crushed all ambition out of
"Ye're a stranger in Ireland, sor!'
YES said; I'm from America"
An have We seen much of this poor coun-
try, sor.7
I've been three weeks in Kerry"
~Ah! 4 wild country that, sor, wild
| country No mans safe there.'
| "Oh, I didn't find it 50. was delighted
with Kerry and the people"
! "Ah! thin that's well armed have little to
fear wheriver they 60"
Il never carry weapons | said, and l
often have thought since how long man
may live in this world without acquiring too
much sense. It had been always a sort Of
idiotic boast Of mine that had been in all
kinds Of places unarmed and unframed We
/
| said:
See hero, I'm going no further We must
have come mile already"
! its the next street, said the man, hurry
ing me on
Tt was in the next street. lie knocked at
n door, which, after We WAITED long time,
was cautiously opened. l looked at my
watch in the interval aud saw I had still an
hour to catch my boat at the North Wall if
the place didn't suit. The man said:
Here's gentleman that wants to look at
the big room. Is it occupied
| didn't hear what the answer was, hut the
Inun said, "Shtip up the stair, s0r," and
followed him up. The hall was quito dark,
| and the stair rather steep AT the first land.
ing he pushed open a door and the light
came out On the top of the stairway
SEQ if ii suits ye, sor,' he said, IN sind
in the iandla ~"
The room was large. In q corner was q
bed that was neat and clean. sofa an
comfortable chairs comprised the furniture
with the exception Of a big solid square table
that occupied the center Of the room, oven
which hung a large lamp with a huge shade
on IT, This lamp threw a brilliant light OF
the table and the shade allowed HfslloH
haze to pervade the room. a large, well
framed steel engraving hung on the wall
and the subject was that familiar picture OF
TIE play scene in "Hamletn-tha original OF
which is in the National gallery. The wholl
interior Of that room is indalibiy photo
graphed on my memory. | can se3 a writ
the eager face of the Danish prince a. he lay
at the feet OF Opheiia scanning the half
turned countenance Of the king. Hamlet
answer to the inquiry about the maine of tn,
play-"Tho Mouse Trap"-hGs seemed to M
since singularly applicable TO my own cas-
at the time
put my valiso and waterproof on the soft
and laid tine stout blackthorn beside them
concluded to take the rooms if the term
were reasonable.
The door opened and q big, muscula
| woman showed in as if some one had beel
holding the door against her. She shove
it shut with slam by leaning
back against it. One hand was con
cealed behind her, the other held tn
handle Of the door. She was young and he
face had once been comedy, but was nov
blotchcd by drink and dissipation. Her eye
were red and watery. She wasn't strict
sober then
She began in q loud voice as if ! were
. | mile away. Her first utterance was toi
rent Of the most fearful oaths | have eve
heard from human lips She ended by con
nanding me to lay my watch and money o
the table under penalty Of having IN
"skoor crushed in.
With calmness that regret there wer
no impartial witnesses to, | picked up m
l left
; In my right took my blackthorn, graspin
il near the point. In my left took th
valise This was done with a cool deliberi
ton that excited my utmost admiration, IL
! was at that moment the most frightane
man in the three kingdoms. / didn't so muc
mind being killed, as being killed in de
: like that / knew the verdict Of certai
kind friends OF mine would be, Served hi
right No business going to such a place
, felt u serene certainty that the worst COZ
A., struction would he put on my presenC
there, and had great yearning TO be lei
30 that / might explain.
I "Madam," | said, kindly allow me to &,
have 10 money except some small chang
which under the circumstances you are we
come to.
She shrieked an incredulous laugh an
swore that il did not at once plank down {
least five guineas and my watch she woui
! dissect me-
1t this moment the door showed open agai
aud two more women came squeezing il
One was young and tall Her face had NJ
: the depravity of the first, but it was ba
: enough, and gave me little hope of the menC
J ing of matters. The other was short hal
: and was / imagined, the one who ha
oped the door She was simply living no
J ror Some terrible, caneer-hke disease ha
nose entirely away, and had al: