Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-04-21
THE BLACKrHoRN.


came In on the mail-car from Cabirc
veen and was going to Killarney. Pat Ryi
was the driver, one CT the best ami jollie
car drivers in all Ireland Toward dusk '
stopped at a little hut, where Pat got oil oil
went in to get the mail. Tters werS thr
others besides myself on the car and tn
vent in TO get drinks. sat On the car
b,nt old woman came up to see me with
bundle Of canes in her arms and said:
Fur dhs luv ave Cad, yer amer, wud J
buy good blacktarn shtick from Door ou
cratur dhat hasn't tasted bite nor sup dh
dayYr
How much are theyi7
"Only threepince aich, yer amer"
-All right; pick ne out good cne."
She did SO, and handed me Q tough, knott
blackthorn cane with spikes bristling a
along it, most formidable looking weapon
gave the woman sixpence, and this uneI
pected generosity on my part brought dow
on my head more blessings than ever ha
fallen to my share before. She blessed tt
cane and blessed myself until the benedi,
tons became positively embarrassing.
Wien We reached Killarney took Ii
train for Dublin, which place was anxior
TO reach. as my cash was getting short
had stayed week longer in Ireland than
hGi intended, and alth ugh l had ticket
through TO London, yet / knew il
fingered much longer in the Gree
Ise ! would rot have the wherewithal I
work tie railway lunch counter on my wa,
home. The next evening after bought tina
cane | stood on Sackvilis street with tn
blackthorn in my hanl wondering what
had better do. The wind was blowing
hurricane down the broad street, and |
whirlei around Nelson's tall pillar in q ter
rifle manner that showed me it would be n
fun crossing the channe! that night l va
afraid to crosS / had been pretty sick com
ing over and the breeze that night want
circumstance to the gale that was ragin:
now. yet had no. the money TO stay at
gooi hotel, for good hotels in Dublin ar,
rather expensive, as had found on my pre-
vious visit three weeks Def re. Just then
man touched me on the arm and said, As il
Ii. had been thought reader
Are We looking for a nice quiet lodging
the night.'
I'm not looking for anything but this
wind TO go down. answered.
It'll DO worse before it's better" said the
man casting lcok at the tall top Of the
monument Yer not thinkin' av going
away from Dublin the nighti'
"Im thinking Of crossing the channel"
Oh! wurra, wurra," cried the man. with
4 cespairing gesture, 1T wouli be a case OF
life or death wud take man out TO sea q
night like thisr
mat was about my own idea of the mat
ter, AMI as the viii blast gave an extra
swo1p that seemed TO blow out every Ia IN
on Sackyil,e stree. We drew cl ser into the
dark shelter OF TIE s:ds thoroa ,hfare.
DO you know of good loiging that is
ch apr / asked
'Tle best in Dublin. kept by a dacent
wildly woman. AMI troth if the prics don't
paze We there's no obligation to SHAY Just
slip there wild me and Lux at the rooms,
AMI il e pric. and r ON don't plaz, ye-
shure there's no harum done at all at ALL
Is Il far from here.'
Just sthep'
Everything is just step in Dublin
"All right" l said, srll 60 AMI see the
place"
"Ee'll DO PLACED wild it. sor,- he re- lied as
be led down the side street
Ii was quieter as We walked along this
street and my partner talked in a soft insin-
uating, deprecatory sort Of way He struck
me as man whom life bad completely
crushed ali ambition out OF.
~Ye'Te n stranger i'll lrelanl, sor!1
Yes" / said; In: from America,
An have We seen muya 4 thi, poor coun-
try, sorf'
I've been three weeks in Kerry"
@Ah! a wild country that, sor, wild
country. No mans safe there"
"Oh. / didn't find it so was delighted
with Kerry and the people,
"Ah. thin that's well nilued have little 70
fesr wheriver they GO
i never carry weapons / said, and
often have thought sirce how Ion a man
may live in thi, world without acquiring too
much sense. Il had been always sort Of
iliotic boast IF mine tina. had been in all
kinds % places uaarinei and unharm.d. We
went through n maze OF streets and at last
said:
See here, Tn going no further We must
have come a mile already
ats the next street." said the man. hurry
ing me on
1t was in the next street. ae knocked -
A door, which, after We waitei a long time.
was cautiously opene1 / lookei at my
watch in the interval and saw I had still an
hour to catch my boat at the North Wall il
the place Hint suit The man said:
the big room l. it occupiedi'
| didn't hear what the answer was, but tho
man said. ~Shtip up the STAIR sor,' and
followed him up. The hall was quite dark,
and the starr rather steep At the first land.
ing he pushed open door and the light
came out on the top of the stairway
See if it suits We, sor," he said. "Ill sind
in the landia ly"
..Tixa ,..a,,, lar,,, T.,
bed that was neat and clean. 4 sofa an
chairs comprised tho furniture
With the exception OF big solid square table
that occupied the center of the room. over
which hung large lamp with huge shade
IN 1t. This lamp threw a brilliant light on
the table and the shade allowed n mellow
haze 10 pervade the room a large, we'll
framed steel engraving hung on the wall.
lad the subject was that familiar picture Of
.le play scene in "Eamlst"-the original OF
which is in the National gallery. The whole
interior OF that room is indelibly photo
,raphed on my memory. can zee as Iwrits
he eager face Of the Danish prince as he lay
It the feet OF Ophelia, scanning the half
urned oountenanc, OF the king Hamlet's
answer to the inquiry about the name of the
,lay-"The Mouse Trap'-has seemed to IN,
ince s!nSularly applicable % ny own case
II the time
put my valise and waterproof on the sofa
md laid the stout blackthorn beside them l
10 take the rooms II ths terms
we're reasonable.
The door opened and a big, muscular
woman showed ir a. IL some one had been
folding the door against her Sac shovel
I shut with slam by leaning
,ack ayains. it One hand was con
ealed behind her. tbs other held the
handle Of the door. she was young and her
ace hal once been cpmsly, but va. now
'lotched by drink ard dissipation. Her eyes
we're red and watery. SDe wasn't strictly |
cher then
she began in a loud voice as il were = |
nile away. Her first utterance was a tor |
ent of tie most fearful oaths have ever |
.eari from human lips. She ended by com |
handing me 10 lay my watch and money on
he table. under penalty OF having my
skoor crushed in.
With a calmneSs that regret there were |
70 iIarertial witnes e. e, ! pickle up my |
waterproof and threw il over my left arm |
n my right took my biackthcrn. grasping |
I near the point In my left I took tbs |
all~e. Tn was done with a cool islib 1ra- |
ion tina, excited nv utmost admiration, FOR |
was 1T tha: moment the most frightened |
nan in tue thr,e king IONS. didn't 50 much |
mind being Killed. "a being killed in den |
.ke that | know the verdict Of certain |
,ini friends OF nine wou i Ie. Served him |
light No business going 10 such plaza"
felt serene certainty that to, worst eoa--
trGctun would lie pu. on my pre- ence |